Bauru, Brazil - October 1 - The U.S. Junior National Teams continued play today at the PanAm Aquatics U19 Championships. The men defeated Argentina, 18-7, as Ellis Culleton scored four goals and Luke Harris notched eight saves. The women beat Mexico, 30-1, behind four goals each from Eden Coughran, Delaney Hook, and Maci Magee while Ellison Brush and Lexi Nelson combined for five saves. The USA Women will play Canada tomorrow at 12:00pm pt before the USA Men square off with Mexico at 1:30pm pt. The matches will stream live on PanAm Aquatics Play with live stats available from 6-8 Sports.
The men's match got underway with an Argentinian goal one minute in to which Reed Hanna had a response for the United States. Argentina answered with its second score but Nate Simoncelli and Hanna countered for a 3-2 edge after the first quarter. Culleton rang the register from five meters to double the advantage in the second period. Two straight goals from Argentina leveled the score before Culleton went back to work. A third in the period from Argentina proceeded Jett Taylor and Peter Saunders goals which reestablished a 7-5 lead at the break.
It was in the second half when the Americans pulled away to take control. Clay Carrington began the scoring followed by Taylor on a counterattack. Argentina got one back but Gian Sarimsakci, Saunders, and Culleton pushed the lead to 12-6 headed to the final frame. In the fourth quarter, Argentina scored first but could not muster another goal. Carrington (2), Hanna, Culleton, Diego Dantas, and Trent Smith all scored down the stretch to confirm the 18-7 win.
Team USA went 2/3 on power plays and 5/5 on penalties while Argentina went 3/8 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties.
Scoring - Stats
USA 18 (3, 4, 5, 6) E. Culleton 4, C. Carrington 3, R. Hanna 3, P. Saunders 2, J. Taylor 2, D. Dantas 1, G. Sarimsakci 1, N. Simoncelli 1, T. Smith 1
ARG 7 (2, 3, 1, 1) B. Federico Calcagno 2, G. Mecozzi Aranda 2, J. Pablo Rio 2, J. Rosso Acuna 1
Saves - USA - L. Harris 8 - ARG - M. Santos 2
6x5 - USA - 2/3 - ARG - 3/8
Penalties - USA - 5/5 - ARG - 2/2
On the women's side, the Americans started quickly and were relentless throughout. Teodora Diaconu and Magee began the offensive explosion followed by Julia Gustafsson (2), Katherine O'Dea, Coughran, and Synnove Robinson (2) to establish an 8-0 lead after one. Magee and Didi Evans increased the advantage to double digits before Mexico got on the board. Diaconu, Coughran (2), and Hook (2) closed the quarter with a handful of goals for a 15-1 halftime lead.
The second half was more of the same from the United States. Magee found the back of the net on a pair of goals before McKenna Stuart did the same. Robinson, Coughran, Madison Mack, and Hook continued the Americans' big day to set the score at 23-1. In the final frame, it was all window dressing. Mack, Diaconu, Gustafsson, Hook, Harper Price, Stuart, and Evans connected to confirm the 30-1 victory.
Team USA went 7/10 on power plays and 3/4 on penalties while Mexico went 1/9 on power plays with no penalties attempted.
Scoring - Stats
USA 30 (8, 7, 8, 7) E. Coughran 4, M. Magee 4, D. Hook 4, T. Diaconu 3, J. Gustafsson 3, S. Robinson 3, M. Stuart 3, D. Evans 2, M. Mack 2, K. O'Dea 1, H. Price 1
MEX 1 (0, 1, 0, 0) I. Curiel 1
Saves - USA - L. Nelson 3, E. Brush 2 - MEX - D. Trevino 3, G. Morales 2
6x5 - USA - 7/10 - MEX - 1/9
Penalties - USA - 3/4 - MEX - 0/0
