FUKUOKA, Japan — Princeton University alumna/two-time Olympic Gold Medalist goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson ’17 stopped 10-of-18 shots she faced, but allowed four man-up scores and a penalty shot for the difference, as the defending Olympic Gold Medalist United States women’s national team suffered an 8-7 setback against Italy in the 20th World Aquatics Championships quarterfinals.
Johnson – who turned away 12-of-18 shots she faced as the United States disposed of China, 15-6, and corralled 15-of-20 shots in a 16-5 dispatching of France in Group A competition – was unable to overcome an Italian team which led 3-2 after the first quarter prior to the United States rallying back to knot the contest at four-all by halftime. The game turned in the second half as Italy outscored the Americans 2-1 in both the third and fourth quarters.
For the Americans, current Princeton standout Jovana Sekulic (Jr., Belgrade, Serbia/The Episcopal Academy (Pa.)) saw 2:44 of time in the water to aid her nation’s cause against Italy.
The loss snaps a string of four World Championships by the United States (2015, 2017, 2019, 2022). Further, this marks the first major event that Team USA will not medal in since the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona, Spain.
Team USA will attempt to salvage a Fifth Place finish at the World Championships as the squad will face Canada at 1:00 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, July 26. The victor of the USA-Canada game tangles in the Fifth Place game at 3:30 a.m. Eastern on Friday, July 28, versus the winner of a showdown pitting Hungary against Greece, while the loser will meet the fallen from the Hungary-Greece matchup for Seventh Place on Thursday, July 27, at 10:30 p.m. Eastern.
