Olympic Women’s Water Polo: Spain Tops U.S.; France Edges Italy
Spain beat the United States on Monday in women’s water polo at the Olympics on the second day of group-stage play, while France edged Italy in a dramatic opener.
Spain used seven steals to power a 13-11 win over the three-time reigning gold medalists, outscoring them by a 9-6 margin over the middle two quarters. Bea Ortiz scored four straight goals in the third quarter to power that outburst.
Ortiz had five goals and two assists. Anni Espar scored and dished four assists. Maica Garcia added two goals. Martina Terre stopped seven shots.
The United States got within 11-10 with 5:35 to play on Kaleigh Gilchrist’s goal. Maggie Steffens had a shot blocked, and Espar answered with a goal to restore the two-score bump. Spain fended off two power plays late to keep that edge.
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Jordan Raney was the only American with multiple goals with two. Maddie Musselman had a goal and three assists. Ashleigh Johnson stopped 13 shots and scored a long-range goal.
France trailed going into the final quarter before upending Italy, 9-8. Lara Andres tied the game at 7, then power-play tallies by Juliette Dhalluin and Emma Vernoux were enough for France to withstand a late charge by the Italians.
Dhalluin scored three times to go with two assists. Vernoux scored twice, though she was held to 2-for-7 shooting. Andres scored twice. Mia Rycraw stopped 10 shots.
Roberta Bianconi scored two goals, though on 2-for-8 shooting, for Italy.
The Netherlands got a scare but pulled away from China in a 15-11 win, despite trailing 8-5 at half. Maartje Keuning was the catalyst, shooting 3-for-3 from the field. Sabrina van der Sloot added three goals and two assists. Brigitte Sleeking had a goal and four assists, and Simone van der Kraats paired two goals with two assists.
Hungary jumped on Canada early in a 12-7 win. Alda Magyari turned aside seen shots. Rita Keszthelyi paired three goals with three assists. Gretta Gurisatti also tallied a hat trick.
Emma Wright, Hayley McKelvey and Kindred Paul scored twice apiece for Canada.