Wednesday, July 28, 2021

WATER POLO: USA Women Fall To Hungary 10-9 For First Loss At Tokyo Olympic Games

Tokyo, Japan - July 28 - The U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team suffered their first loss at the Tokyo Olympic Games today falling to Hungary in a thriller, 10-9. Maddie Musselman scored three goals to lead the USA attack while Ashleigh Johnson recorded nine saves in net. The loss was the first in 2021 for Team USA, their first loss at an Olympic Games since the final at the 2008 Olympic Games and just the program's fourth loss since the 2016 Olympic Games. Team USA currently stands at 2-1 in Group B action with one game remaining. 

A replay of match coverage is available

by clicking here, match coverage is also scheduled to air on USA Network in Olympic programming starting at 11:30am et/8:30am pt. Team USA returns to the pool to close out group play on Friday against ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) at 3:30pm local time/2:30am eastern/11:30pm pacific (July 29). The match will air live on the NBC family of networks and a live stream can be accessed by clicking here. The game will replay as part of Olympic coverage starting at 11:45am et/8:45am on NBC Sports Network on July 31. 

Hungary struck first in what would develop into a back and forth affair, as Rebecca Parkes scored the first of her three goals for a 1-0 lead. Musselman followed a few minutes later to tie the game and then Maggie Steffens gave Team USA their first lead at 2-1 with 2:06 to play. The goal now brings Steffens within three of the all-time Olympic scoring mark in women's water polo. Hungary answered with a goal late in the period and the match was tied at 2-2 after one.

In the second quarter Hungary was again the aggressor, scoring two straight to take a 4-2 lead. Again it was Team USA chipping away, stringing together consecutive goals from Rachel Fattal to draw even. The last came on a counter attack to make it a 4-4 match with 2:30 to play in the first half. Hungary went up on an Anna Illes goal with less than a minute to play in the half but Makenzie Fischer tied the game going into intermission, scoring with just three seconds to play for a 5-5 game.

Musselman hit on a power play to open the third to give the United States the lead back at 6-5. That was short-lived as Hungary tied the game at 6-6 with 3:38 to play. Team USA seemed to take control of the match after that, holding Hungary scoreless while adding two goals from Makenzie Fischer and Musselman to lead 8-6 going to the fourth. Hungary battled back immediately in the final period with another Parkes goal and a Vanda Valyi connect for an 8-8 match with 5:37 to play. Melissa Seidemann came up with a clutch, cage-rattling goal to give the United States a 9-8 lead with 2:28 to go. Hungary made one final push to take it home, Rita Keszthelyi connected on a power play score to tie the match at 9-9 with less than two minutes to play. Parkes hit the game-winner out of two-meters with 45 seconds left to take a 10-9 lead. Final shots from Team USA were halted and Hungary secured the one goal win. 

Team USA went 4/11 on power plays while Hungary went 3/5 on power plays with no penalties attempted by either team. 

Scoring - Stats
USA 9 (2, 3, 3, 1) M. Musselman 3, R. Fattal 2, M. Fischer 2, M. Seidemann 1, M. Steffens 1
HUN 10 (2, 3, 1, 4) R. Parkes 3, R. Keszthelyi 2, V. Valyi 2, D. Szilagyi 1, A. Illes 1, A. Gyongyossy 1
6x5 - USA - 4/11 - HUN 3/5
Penalties - USA - 0/0 - HUN - 0/0

Flash Quotes

Adam Krikorian - Head Coach


On the Hungarian team: 

"They're probably the tallest and most physical team there is out there. So just in general they take up a lot of space and you have to hand it to them. They're an excellent team. I wouldn't be surprised if they go a long way in this tournament." 

On the match:

"I thought we played hard, we played so tough. It was similar to the China (CHN) game when we had a really difficult time just putting the ball in the back of the net. We wish we would have finished off the game, but we'll learn from this and move on.

"The game was super physical, the most physical game that we played in the last 13 or 17 games that we've had leading up to this."

"We were a little rushed, a little anxious, but I'm certainly proud of the way we kind of just kept battling and battling and battling."

On the unfamiliar feeling of losing:

"You know it is, but it isn't in some ways. Maybe you wouldn't believe this, but when you imagine the game, I think it's unrealistic to think you always imagine winning. I've certainly imagined losing before and that mental preparation is part of this experience. 

"It (losing) hasn't happened in a while, but at the same time it's happened in my mind many times."

Melissa Seidemann

On the unusual feeling of losing:

"We're going into every game taking our competitors seriously. We haven't lost a lot but the way the media portrays that discredits our opponents as everyone's so good.

"It's not a surprise to us (the result). We knew it was going to be a battle and we look forward to the next time we get to see them."

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