BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Former Princeton University goalie Ashleigh Johnson and the United States National Team continued their international domination as Team USA dispatched the Netherlands, 8-6, in the title game of the 2018 FINA Women’s Water Polo World League Super Final at the Kunshan Sports Centre in Kunshan, China.
Johnson, who garnered Top Goalkeeper honors for earning the victory in defeats of Japan (14-4 W), Australia (12-1 W) and Russia (8-3 W) prior to helping the United States down the Dutch, allowed two goals in the first quarter as the Americans fell behind 2-1. However, she blanked the Netherlands in the second quarter to allow Team USA to grab a 3-2 lead by halftime.
Leading 6-4 after three quarters of action, she anchored the United States in the final frame as the teams exchanged pairs of goals.
The Americans, who clipped Japan (14-4 W), Canada (12-5 W) and Russia (10-7 W) to claim the Group B title prior to upending Australia (12-1 W) in the quarterfinals and Russia (8-3 W) in the semifinals, take home their fifth straight FINA World League Super Final crown and 12th overall Super Final title in USA Women’s National Team program history.
In the Third Place game, former Indiana University Hoosiers’ star Shae Fournier did not score as her team suffered a last second 7-6 loss against Russia to miss out on a medal. Following a Canadian miscue in the waning seconds of the clash, the Russians came down the tank and buried the buzzer-beating game-winner to take the win.
Canada concludes the tournament with a 3-3 record as the team previously fell to the United States (12-5 L) and defeated Japan (13-4 W) and Russia (11-9 W) in Group B play before topping China (5-2 W) in the quarterfinals and falling to the Netherlands (11-5 L) in the semifinals.
Fournier wraps-up the FINA World League Super Final with five goals as she posted a pair of markers against the United States to accompany single tallies versus Japan, Russia and China.
In the Seventh Place game, former Hartwick College star Bronwen Knox, current University of Michigan standout Maddy Steere and former Wolverine Amy Ridge helped Australia slip past Japan, 10-7.
Australia, which fell to the Netherlands (7-5 L), host China (8-6 L) and Spain (10-9 L) in Group A before suffering setbacks against the United States (12-1 L) and Spain (11-8 L) to stand winless entering the contest against Japan, was led by Ridge who connected on three goals. Knox added a single score, while Steere did not post a strike.
The goal marked the fourth of the tournament for Knox who previously posted single goals against the Netherlands, China and Spain. Ridge raises her scoring total to seven after previously finding the back of the cage once against China and connecting on a hat-trick versus Spain. Steere notched one goal at the tournament as she drilled in a shot against Spain.
