Bauru, Brazil - October 3 - The U.S. Junior National Teams both advanced to the gold medal match with semifinal victories today at the PanAm Aquatics U19 Championships. The men toppled Canada, 23-6, behind seven goals from Jackson Shaw and 13 combined saves from Rafael Suarez-Abraham and Luke Harris. The women defeated Mexico, 31-2, as Teodora Diaconu scored five goals while Ellison Brush and Lexi Nelson teamed up for eight saves. Team USA advances to the gold medal matches tomorrow against the host nation Brazil. The women's game begins at 2:00pm pt before the men cap off the tournament at 3:30pm pt. The matches will stream live on PanAm Aquatics Play with live stats available from 6-8 Sports.
The American men got off to a quick start when Reed Hanna and Diego Dantas put the first two goals of the game on the board. Midway through the quarter, Canada leveled with back-to-back scores before Hanna and Shaw doubled the United States lead to 4-2 after one. The Canadians put home a pair of goals to begin the second period and tie the score before three straight from Clay Carrington, Jett Taylor, and Nate Simoncelli. Canada got one back before Peter Saunders and Hanna pushed the lead to 9-5 at the half.
Team USA took control of the contest in the second half. Six American goals from Shaw (2), Kane Fogg, Saunders (2), and Carrington buoyed the offense while the defense pitched a third quarter shutout for a 15-5 edge. Shaw hit on back-to-back shots to begin the final frame followed by goals from Carrington, Gian Sarimsakci, and Trent Smith. Canada scored its final goal of the game before Shaw (2) and Carrington solidified the 23-6 win.
Team USA went 7/11 on power plays with no penalties attempted while Canada went 5/9 on power plays with no penalties attempted.
Scoring - Stats
USA 23 (4, 5, 6, 8) J. Shaw 7, C. Carrington 4, R. Hanna 3, P. Saunders 3, D. Dantas 1, K. Fogg 1, G. Sarimsakci 1, N. Simoncelli 1, T. Smith 1, J. Taylor 1
CAN 6 (2, 3, 0, 1) R. Anderson 2, L. Boutin 2, F. Trofinenco 2
Saves - USA - R. Suarez-Abraham 7, L. Harris 6 - CAN - W. Foerter 5, A. Lapierre 1
6x5 - USA - 7/11 - CAN - 5/9
Penalties - USA - 0/0 - CAN - 0/0
The American women jumped all over Mexico from the opening sprint with lockdown defense which led to offensive firepower. Delany Hook and Katherine O'Dea scored twice in quick succession early before McKenna Stuart, Synnove Robinson, Diaconu, Madison Mack, and Julia Gustafsson tallied goals for a 7-0 lead after one. More of the same followed in the second quarter which began quickly courtesy of O'Dea. EJ Hourigan, Eden Coughran, Maci Magee, Gustafsson (2), Robinson, and Diaconu pushed the United States lead to 15-0 at the break.
The offensive output kept climbing to its apex of nine goals in the third period. Coughran (2), O'Dea, Magee, Hook, Stuart, Harper Price, Mack, and Hourigan notched scores while the defense pitched yet another shutout to cement a 24-0 advantage headed to the final frame. In the fourth quarter, Stuart started the scoring before Gustafsson, Diaconu (2), and Robinson continued the American avalanche. Mexico finally got on the board with just under three minutes to play prior to another goal from Robinson. Another Mexican goal followed and the game ended after Diaconu scored her fifth to claim the 31-2 win.
Team USA went 5/6 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties while Mexico went 0/9 on power plays and 0/1 on penalties.
Scoring - Stats
USA 31 (7, 8, 9, 7) T. Diaconu 5, J. Gustafsson 4, S. Robinson 4, E. Coughran 3, K. O'Dea 3, M. Stuart 3, M. Magee 2, M. Mack 2, D. Hook 2, E. Hourigan 2, H. Price 1
MEX 2 (0, 0, 0, 2) I. Curiel 2
Saves - USA - E. Brush 4, L. Nelson 4 - MEX - D. Trevino 5, G. Morales 4
6x5 - USA - 5/6 - MEX - 0/9
Penalties - USA - 2/2 - MEX - 0/1
