Bauru, Brazil - September 30 - The U.S. Junior National Teams were in competition today at the PanAm Aquatics U19 Championships. The women were victorious over Brazil, 14-8, as Eden Coughran and Maci Magee each scored three goals while goalkeepers Ellison Brush and Lexi Nelson combined for three saves. The men lost a heartbreaker to Brazil, 20-19, after penalties as Ellis Culleton scored six goals and Luke Harris registered eight saves. The USA Men will face Argentina tomorrow at 10:30am pt before the USA Women square off with Mexico at 12:00pm pt. The matches will stream live on PanAm Aquatics Play with live stats available from 6-8 Sports.
On the women's side, Magee struck first for the United States and Katherine O'Dea followed with another from the penalty stripe. Coughran, Magee, and Synnove Robinson extended the lead to five before Brazil got one back. Robinson connected on a second score late to set the score at 6-1 after the opening quarter. The action was scoreless both ways in the second until Magee rang the register midway through the period. The Brazilians answered with back-to-back goals prior to Harper Price, O'Dea, and EJ Hourigan hitting three consecutive scores for a 10-3 halftime lead.
The home team came out of the break with its most inspired effort in the third quarter. After another from Coughran, Brazil scored four straight to halve the deficit. Delaney Hook and Julia Gustafsson responded for the Americans for a 13-7 edge after three. One minute into the final frame, Coughran recorded her hat trick to double the lead. The hosts got one back midway through the fourth but could get no closer as the United States earned the 14-8 victory.
Team USA went 2/4 on power plays and 3/3 on penalties while Brazil went 4/8 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties.
Scoring - Stats
USA 14 (6, 4, 3, 1) E. Coughran 3, M. Magee 3, K. O'Dea 2, S. Robinson 2, J. Gustafsson 1, E. Hourigan 1, D. Hook 1, H. Price 1
BRA 8 (1, 2, 4, 1) M. Garcia 2, A. Beatriz Maximo 1, M. Eduarda Santos 1, N. Fernandes 1, M. Nascimento 1, E. Rodrigues 1, D. Samapio 1
Saves - USA - E. Brush 2, L. Nelson 1 - BRA - M. Dos Santos 4, I. Dos Santos 1
6x5 - USA - 2/4 - BRA - 4/8
Penalties - USA - 3/3 - BRA - 2/2
The men's match began with a power play goal from Brazil to which Reed Hanna responded from five meters. The hosts then scored three straight before Clay Carrington got one back. The Brazilians were able to convert on another power play late for a 5-2 lead after one. Hanna, Culleton, and Trent Smith scored consecutive goals to level the score at the start of the second. Brazil answered with a pair of scores before another from Hanna halved the deficit to 7-6 at the break.
Culleton scored twice to begin the second half and take the lead for the first time. Brazil leveled before another from Culleton pushed the Americans in front again. The hosts had another answer prior to Carrington's second score as the two sides went back-and-forth. The give and take continued when Brazil scored once more followed by Gian Sarimsakci finding the back of the net to close the quarter with an 11-10 advantage. The Brazilians put the first two goals of the fourth period away to retake the lead and then Jett Taylor converted a power play strike. Brazil countered with a power play of its own before Culleton knotted things back up at 13-13 which was the score entering a penalty shootout.
The two nations went goal for goal in the shootout through four rounds before Harris came up with a save on Brazil's fifth attempt. An American miss on the next shot kept things level before another two rounds of conversions. In the eighth round of penalties, Brazil hit again and the United States could not answer to confirm the tough 20-19 loss to the hosts.
Team USA went 6/18 on power plays and 1/2 on penalties before the shootout while Brazil went 7/12 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties before the shootout.
Scoring - Stats
USA 19 (2, 4, 5, 2, 6) E. Culleton 6, C. Carrington 3, R. Hanna 3, T. Smith 3, J. Taylor 3, G. Sarimsakci 1
BRA 20 (5, 2, 3, 3, 7) F. Gomes 5, H. Martins 4, D. Martins 3, M. Gabiolli 2, T. Rodrigues 2, N. Zibecchi 2, L. Avallone 1, J. Carlos Marques 1
Saves - USA - L. Harris 8 - BRA - E. Batist 12, V. Hugo Mendes 8
6x5 - USA - 6/18 - BRA - 7/12
Penalties - USA - 1/2 - BRA - 2/2
