Szolnok, Hungary - January 15 - The U.S. Women's Senior National Team defeated Hungary 12-11 today after a penalty shootout. Emily Ausmus scored twice in the clutch, once to tie the game with 0:17 remaining in regulation and once to secure victory on the final shot of the shootout. Amanda Longan recorded nine saves in the cage including two big stops in the decisive shootout. A full replay of the game is available here.
The home team struck first on the opening possession of the game before Jewel Roemer leveled the score from five meters. Midway through the opening period, Rachel Fattal pushed Team USA in front with a powerful long distance connection. Hungary answered with a pair of goals over the next minute but Fattal would knot things at 3-3 just before the end of the first.
Ryann Neushul scored to begin the second quarter and then Rachel Gazzaniga found the back of the net twice for the United States. Hungary stopped the American run with one of its own as it scored the next three goals to tie the game. Late in the half, Roemer took advantage of a power play opportunity to give Team USA a 7-6 edge at the break.
The third period was a defensive clinic both ways as neither side could create any offense. Each team took and missed six shots to leave the score at 7-6 in favor of the United States headed into the fourth.
The trend continued well into the fourth quarter until Hungary drew two exclusions to force a 6-on-4 and converted to tie the game with 1:32 left on the clock. On the ensuing possession, the home team earned another power play and took the lead with 0:39 to go. Team USA took a timeout to draw up a play which earned an exclusion with 0:26 remaining and set up Ausmus for the game-tying goal.
In the shootout, Hungary scored first to put the pressure on before saving the first American attempt. The home team scored again on its second shot and victory looked out of reach. From there, Jovana Sekulic buried the United States' second attempt before Longan forced the Hungarians' shot wide of the cage to open the door. Then, Jordan Raney skipped home a game-tying goal and Longan made a crucial save ranging to her right. Next it was Neushul who put Team USA back in front before a Hungarian answer. That left Ausmus with the final word in the shootout and she beat the goalkeeper to claim the 12-11 win.
Scoring - Stats
USA 12 (3, 4, 0, 1, 4) E. Ausmus 2, R. Fattal 2, R. Gazzaniga 2, R. Neushul 2, J. Roemer 2, J. Raney 1, J. Sekulic 1
HUN 11 (3, 3, 0, 2, 3)
Saves - USA - A. Longan 9
6x5 - USA - 3/13 - HUN - 4/13
Penalties - USA - 1/1 - HUN - 1/2 (before SO)
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