Bauru, Brazil - September 29 - The U.S. Junior National Teams both beat Canada today at the PanAm Aquatics U19 Championships. The women won, 25-4, as Maci Magee scored seven goals while goalkeepers Ellison Brush and Lexi Nelson registered ten combined saves. The men were victorious, 28-9, behind eight goals scored from Jett Taylor and seven saves from goalkeeper Luke Harris. Team USA will face the host nation Brazil tomorrow with the women playing at 3:00pm pt and the men capping off the day at 4:30pm pt. The matches will stream live on PanAm Aquatics Play with live stats available from 6-8 Sports.
The women's match began when Magee found the back of the net on a counter attack to begin her big day. Eden Coughran scored next followed by another from Magee before Canada got one back. Coughran put away her second prior to goals from Delaney Hook and Teodora Diaconu to extend the edge. A second Canadian goal proceeded a first quarter hat trick for Magee to set the score at 7-2 after one. Magee started the second period with another goal before Canada earned a penalty and converted the five meter attempt. Julia Gustafsson, Magee, and Didi Evans struck next for three in a row before Canada added another. Diaconu and Coughran closed the half with two goals for a 13-4 American lead at the break.
The United States kept up the offense in the second half while ramping up the defensive pressure as well. Katherine O'Dea (2), Madison Mack, EJ Hourigan, Hook (2), and Diaconu all scored while Canada went scoreless for a 20-4 advantage at the end of three quarters. The final frame was more of the same. Hourigan, Magee (2), Hook, and Gustafsson closed things out for the Americans as Canada came up empty again to confirm a 25-4 victory.
Team USA went 3/9 on power plays and 1/2 on penalties while Canada went 0/11 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.
Scoring - Stats
USA 25 (7, 6, 7, 5) M. Magee 7, D. Hook 4, E. Coughran 3, T. Diaconu 3, E. Hourigan 2, J. Gustafsson 2, K. O'Dea 2, D. Evans 1, M. Mack 1
CAN 4 (2, 2, 0, 0) A. Bilodeau 1, A. Kyfiuk 1, J. Linthicum 1, N. O'Neill 1
Saves - USA - E. Brush 5, L. Nelson 5 - CAN - A. Barkova 3, V. Guiver 3
6x5 - USA - 3/9 - CAN - 0/11
Penalties - USA - 1/2 - CAN - 1/1
On the men's side, Ellis Culleton scored the opening goal of the game on a power play strike. Trent Smith doubled the lead before Canada got one back. Reed Hanna, Taylor, and Saunders scored a trio of goals followed by another for the Canadians. Clay Carrington found the back of the net on a man advantage to give the United States a 6-2 lead after one quarter of play. Canada scored to begin the second quarter but Carrington (2), Jackson Shaw, Kane Fogg, Nate Simoncelli, and Hanna responded for the Americans. Canada added another late in the half before Shaw capped the quarter with a goal to set the score at 13-4.
The Canadians were determined not to go quietly as they scored the first two goals of the third period. Hanna answered with a pair of scores before Diego Dantas joined the scoresheet. Another goal from Canada proceeded two from Carrington. Canada got one back before Taylor and Saunders pushed the American lead to 20-8 after three. Taylor began the final frame with a goal and Canada answered. From there, Taylor scored the next four and then Fogg put away his second of the contest. Taylor and Culleton finished things off with two more to claim the 28-9 win.
Team USA went 10/15 on power plays and 4/4 on penalties while Canada went 3/12 on power plays and 2/3 on penalties.
Scoring - Stats
USA 28 (6, 7, 7, 8) J. Taylor 8, C. Carrington 5, R. Hanna 4, E. Culleton 2, P. Saunders 2, J. Shaw 2, D. Dantas 1, N. Simoncelli 1, T. Smith 1
CAN 9 (2, 2, 4, 1) N. Voros 3, R. Anderson 1, J. Coxford 1, J. Del Campo 1, D. Hazen 1, M. Severson 1, F. Trofinenco 1
Saves - USA - L. Harris 7 - CAN - W. Foerter 5, A. Lapierre 4
6x5 - USA - 10/15 - CAN - 3/12
Penalties - USA - 4/4 - CAN - 2/3
