Team USA Dominates Argentina 20-9 in Opening Match of 2024 PanAm Water Polo Championships

Team USA Dominates Argentina 20-9 in Opening Match of 2024 PanAm Water Polo Championships

November 21, 2024 Catherine Williams - Chief Editor Business

The U.S. Women’s Senior National Team started the 2024 PanAm Water Polo Championships with a 20-9 win against Argentina in Ibague, Colombia, on November 20. Emily Ausmus, Jovana Sekulic, Emma Lineback, and Rachel Gazzaniga each scored three goals in the match. Amanda Longan made three saves for the team. The U.S. will face Mexico next, scheduled for tomorrow at 2:30 PM ET/11:30 AM PT.

The U.S. took an early lead, scoring three quick goals to make it 3-0. Argentina’s Anahi Bacigalupo scored from five meters, but Team USA answered with three additional goals from Ausmus, Charlotte Raisin, and Lineback. The first quarter ended with the U.S. up 7-3 after both teams traded goals.

In the second quarter, Allison Cohen scored first for the U.S. Argentina converted a penalty shot through Julieta Auliel, but the U.S. then scored three consecutive goals from Gazzaniga, Lucy Haaland-Ford, and Ava Stryker. Argentina managed to narrow the score a bit, but Sekulic scored to close the half at 12-6 in favor of Team USA.

After a slow start in the second half, Sekulic scored again, and Gazzaniga followed, both completing their hat tricks. Argentina’s Maitena Romano scored next, but Ausmus also netted a goal, ending the third quarter with a 16-8 lead.

In the final quarter, Tara Prentice scored for the U.S., and Bacigalupo scored her second goal for Argentina. Team USA finished strong with goals from Julia Bonaguidi, Lineback, and Raisin, sealing the game at 20-9.

Team USA converted 1 of 12 player advantages and scored on both penalty attempts, while Argentina failed to score on all 14 player advantages and succeeded on 3 out of 3 penalty attempts.

Scoring Summary:

  • USA 20 (7, 5, 4, 4): E. Ausmus 3, J. Sekulic 3, E. Lineback 3, R. Gazzaniga 3, A. Cohen 2, C. Raisin 2, T. Prentice 1, J. Bonaguidi 1, L. Haaland-Ford 1, A. Stryker 1
  • Argentina 9 (3, 3, 2, 1): I. Mastronardi 3, J. Auliel 2, A. Bacigalupo 2, A. Agnesina 1, M. Romano 1

Saves:

  • USA: A. Longan 3
  • ARG: L. Canales 4, N. Stegmayer 1

Player Advantages:

  • USA: 1/12
  • ARG: 0/14

Penalties:

  • USA: 2/2
  • ARG: 3/3