BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Princeton University alumna Ashleigh Johnson and current Tigers’ athlete Jovana Sekulic helped the United States get by Greece, 15-6, in Group B action, while former University of Michigan competitor Abby Andrews powered Australia past the Peoples Republic of China, 7-5, with three goals in Group A on the first day of women’s competition at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Andrews accounted for all of her damage in the first half in Australia’s victory as she notched a penalty shot strike with 4:20 left in the first quarter to make the score 2-0 prior to putting away an action shot with three seconds left in the opening frame to put the Stingers back ahead at 3-2. She padded the lead to 4-2 43 seconds into the second quarter by cashing in an exclusion chance with 7:17 until halftime.
Overall, she finished three-for-six from the field (one-for-three action shots/one-for-two man-up shots/one-for-one penalty shot) and collected a steal.
Australia will next be in action on Wednesday, July 31, against the Netherlands.
The three-time defending Olympic Gold Medalist, the United States relied on the goalkeeping of Johnson to flummox the Greeks as she stopped seven-of-seven action shots, two-of-four counter attack chances and one-of-three man-up bids to go along with a steal in 25:14 of competition prior to being lifted at the 6:46 mark of the fourth quarter with the Americans holding a 13-4 lead.
Sekulic shot two-for-four in the game by converting two-of-three chances from center and zero-for-one opportunities on the counter attack in 11:44 of playing time. She notched her inaugural Olympic goal with 5:59 left in the second quarter to build the United States’ lead to 6-0 and converted again with 1:11 left in the fourth quarter to cap off the Americans’ scoring to push ahead 15-5.
The United States will next face Spain on Monday, July 29.
The final two past/current Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) athletes in goalkeeper Jessica Gaudreault and Shae (Fournier) La Roche – alumnae of Indiana University – will take to the water with Canada on Monday, July 29, to start their homeland’s Olympic voyage in Group A on Monday, July 29, against Hungary.
The schedule of games and statistics from each 2024 Olympics women’s water polo game are available by CLICKING HERE.
