Paris, France – August 8 – The United States women’s Olympic water polo team’s try ended tonight in Paris when Australia defeated Team USA 14-13 in a shootout. The USA led 5-2 and 8-6, but Australia never gave up, forcing overtime and winning on a blocked shot in the sixth round of shootouts. Maddie Musselman And Jenna Flynn each scored two goals in the defeat with Ashleigh Johnson and added 12 saves. For the first time since 2004, Team USA will not advance to the gold medal final and now prepares to face the Netherlands for bronze on Saturday at 10:35 a.m. local time/4:35 a.m. ET/1:35 a.m. PT. The game will be streamed LIVE on Peacock, with E! replaying the game starting at 3 a.m. Pacific Time. Click here for more coverage details. Click here for more coverage of USA Water Polo at the Paris Olympics.
Team USA started strong, taking a 2-0 lead in the first period. Musselman converted an early penalty and Flynn followed with a power play shot at 2:11 to take the lead. Charlize Andrews came back moments later to make it 2-1 after eight minutes. Midway through the second period, it was Musselman again who tied the game at 3-1 for Team USA. Australia came within 3-2, but Jovana Sekulić grabbed a rebound inside for the putback and a 4-2 lead. As time ran out in the half, it was Emily Ausmus He came free to score on the counterattack and went into halftime with a 5-2 lead.
Australia came back in the third quarter, powered by Abby Andrews on offense. Andrews scored three straight goals to start the quarter, tying the game at 5-5 with 2:48 left. Flynn stopped the run with a point to put the U.S. back in front at 6-5. It was short-lived, however, as Andrews came back with her fourth goal to tie the game at 6-6. Maggie Steffens had the last word in the third quarter, converting a power play with less than 30 seconds left in the quarter to take a 7-6 lead. At the start of the fourth quarter Rachel Fattal extended the lead to two goals again at 8-6 with a power play goal. Team USA was unable to score for the remainder of regulation time as Australia rallied. Bronte Halligan scored twice in the next few minutes to tie the game at 8-8 with 2:54 left. Both teams had opportunities to regain the lead, but regulation time ended in an 8-8 tie and the game went to a shootout.
In the shootout, each side was perfect for five rounds. In the sixth round, it was back to square one. Zoe Arancini scored to put Australia ahead by one point, and then Gabriella Palm made a game-winning block on Musselman to secure the 14-13 victory.
Team USA managed 4/10 power plays and 1/2 penalties in regulation time, while Australia managed 2/7 power plays and did not attempt a penalty in regulation time.
Score – Statistics
USA 13 (2, 2, 3, 1) (5) M. Musselman 2, J. Flynn 2, R. Fattal 1, M. Steffens 1, J. Sekulic 1, E. Ausmus 1
AUS 14 (1, 1, 4, 2) (6) A. Andrews 4, B. Halligan 2, C. Andrews 1, Z. Arancini 1
Parades – USA – A. Johnson 12 – AUS – G. Palm 14
6×5 – USA – 4/10 – AUS – 2/7
Penalties (Regulation) – USA – 1/2 – AUS – 0/0
Penalties (Shootout) – USA – 5/6 – AUS – 6/6
