BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Former University of Michigan competitor Abby Andrews shot one-for-four, grabbed three steals and blocked a shot to help Australia survive versus the Netherlands, 15-14, in Group A competition at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Australia – which knocked off the People’s Republic of China, 7-5, behind three goals from Andrews on Saturday, July 27, in the Stingers’ opening game of the Olympics – pulled ahead 3-1 and 4-3 at the conclusion of the first and second quarters, respectively, prior to being outscored 4-3 in the second half to complete regulation deadlocked at seven-all.
In penalty shots, Bronte Halligan accounted for the game winner by scoring her team’s eighth penalty shot prior to Lola Moolhuijzen missing for the Netherlands to permit the Aussies to escape and move to 2-0 in Group A competition. It marked Halligan’s second penalty shot goal of the shoot-out as neither team missed until Moolhuijzen was stopped to permit Australia to claim victory.
Trailing 1-0 early in the first quarter, Andrews put her homeland on the scoreboard with 5:39 left in the opening eight minutes by slicing in an action shot to knot the score at one-all and ignite a 3-0 Aussies’ run to the concluding horn of the frame.
Overall, she shot one-for-three on action shots and zero-for-one on man-up chances to raise her 2024 Olympic totals to four goals-on-10 shots with four steals and a field block.
Australia will next be in action on Friday, August 2, against Canada and Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA)/Indiana University alumnae Jessica Gaudreault and Shae (Fournier) La Roche.
The schedule of games and statistics from each 2024 Olympics women’s water polo clash are available by CLICKING HERE.
