Miami, FL – June 27 – Ashleigh Johnson’s (Miami, FL/Princeton/NYAC) return home to Miami weekend was capped off with a 13-6 victory over Hungary at Ransom Everglades, her high school pool. In front of a capacity crowd of Johnson well-wishers, the recently named 2016 Olympian turned aside nine shots in a victory that saw Team USA dominate in the second half. Rachel Fattal (Seal Beach, CA/UCLA/SOCAL) led a barrage of scorers with three goals. Team USA moves on Greenwich, CT on Wednesday for a 7pm etshowdown with Hungary at the Greenwich YMCA. The match is sold out but a live webcast is available by clicking here. To watch a full replay of Team USA’s win in Miami, click here.
Team USA quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter with goals from Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC) and Aria Fischer (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach HS/SET). The squads would then trade goals over the remainder of the first period seemingly setting the tone for a high scoring affair as Mathewson capped the period with a goal with one second on the clock for a 4-2 lead after the first quarter.
Hungary’s Barbara Bujka scored to open the second quarter drawing the match to within a goal at 4-3. After a Maddie Musselman (Newport Beach, CA/Corona del Mar HS/CdM Aquatics) made it 5-3, Bujka hit again for a 5-4 with 5:23 to play in first half. Team USA took control from there as Hungary would enter an extended offensive drought. Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Stanford/NYAC) and Fattal followed with goals only to see Makenzie Fischer (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach HS/SET) deliver with three seconds left in the half to build an 8-4 lead.
The United States put the match away in the third quarter blanking Hungary 4-0 on goals from Fattal, Aria Fischer, Steffens, and Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/NYAC) for a 12-4 lead going to the final quarter. Hungary mustered two goals to break the USA run in the fourth quarter but by then the damage was done. Fattal added her third goal with less than two minutes to play and the United States came away victorious.
Team USA went 4/8 on power plays and 0/1 on penalty shots while Hungary was 2/10 on power plays and 1/1 on penalty shots. These two teams will meet again on Wednesday in Greenwich, CT at 7pm et and on Saturday in Bronx, NY at 2pm et. For more information, click here.
Scoring
USA 13 (4, 4, 4, 1) R. Fattal 3, M. Steffens 2, C. Mathewson 2, A. Fischer 2, M. Fischer 1, K. Craig 1, M. Musselman 1, K. Neushul 1
HUN 6 (2, 2, 0, 2) B. Bujka 4, R. Keszthelyi 2
Saves – USA – A. Johnson 9 – HUN – F. Bolonyai 0, N. Somhegyi 1
6×5 – USA – 4/8 – HUN – 2/10
Penalties – USA 0/1 – HUN – 1/1
Swimming news courtesy of USA Water Polo.
