Puerto de la Cruz, Spain - August 16 - The USA Youth Women began play today at the World Aquatics U18 World Championships with a 14-2 victory against China. Charlotte Raisin scored three goals while goalkeepers Gianna Adams and Eden Stanley combined for six saves in net. Team USA will meet the host nation of Spain tomorrow at 10:30am pt. The match will stream live on the World Aquatics YouTube channel with live statistics available on Microplus Timing Services.
The United States struck first when Player of the Match Kirra Pantaleon found the back of the net and then Raisin doubled the lead before China got one back. A low-scoring first quarter ended at 2-1.
Team USA won this game on the defensive end, holding China scoreless in the middle two periods. In the second, Eden Coughran extended the lead on a five meter penalty attempt prior to Raisin's second goal. On the next possession, Coughran also scored her second goal and then Pantaleon did the same. Late in the period, Paige Segesman scored a tough goal in set with a defender draped all over her to give the American side a 7-1 halftime edge.
Much of the third quarter passed by without a goal before Gabby Alexson broke the stalemate for the United States. Then, it was Makena Bygrave who scored on a power play before Eve Webb pushed the American total to ten. Bygrave put away another goal on a counterattack for an 11-1 advantage at the end of the third.
Midway through the final frame, Raisin connected on a sweet bar down lob shot for a hat trick and then Natalie Whitfield scored her first goal. With under two minutes to go, Alexson registered her second score. China scored its second on a penalty with under a second left to confirm the 14-2 final.
Team USA went 9/18 on power plays and 1/4 on penalties while China went 1/4 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.
Scoring - Stats
USA 14 (2, 5, 4, 3) C. Raisin 3, G. Alexson 2, M. Bygrave 2, E. Coughran 2, K. Pantaleon 2, P. Segesman 1, E. Webb 1, N. Whitfield 1
CHN 2 (1, 0, 0, 1) J. Zhang 2
Saves - USA - G. Adams 3, E. Stanley 3 - CHN - X. Zhang 7
6x5 - USA - 9/18 - CHN - 1/4
Penalties - USA - 1/4 - CHN - 1/1
