BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Former Princeton University goalie Ashleigh Johnson earned her third victory in as many starts at the 2018 FINA Women’s Water Polo World League Super Final at the Kunshan Sports Centre in Kunshan, China, as the 2017 Cutino Award winner blanked Russia in the second quarter and permitted single scores in the first, third and fourth quarters to help the United States advance to the tournament title game with an 8-3 semifinal victory.
The United States, which previously topped Japan (14-4 W), Canada (12-5 W) and Russia (10-7 W) to claim the Group B title prior to upending Australia by a 12-1 score in the quarterfinals, dominated the Russians by opening up leads of 3-1 and 6-1 by the conclusion of the first and second quarters, respectively. Johnson did the rest as she allowed single goals in the third and fourth quarters to keep Russia at bay and push the United States into the Gold Medal game.
Official save totals versus Russia for Johnson, who made six saves against Japan and 15 more versus Australia, are not currently available.
The Americans will take on the Netherlands on Saturday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m local time for the title as the Dutch topped Canada and former Indiana University Hoosiers’ standout Shae Fournier by an 11-5 score in the other semifinal. Fournier did not score in the game.
The loss drops Canada’s record to 3-2 at the tournament as the team previously fell to the United States (12-5 L) and defeated Japan (13-4 W) and Russia (11-9 W) before topping China (5-2 W) in the quarterfinals.
Fournier and Canada will wrap-up the event on June 2 at 6:00 p.m. local in a Third Place game clash with Russia.
Former Hartwick College star Bronwen Knox, current University of Michigan standout Maddy Steere and former Wolverine Amy Ridge also took a loss as Australia dropped an 11-8 consolation game to Spain. The loss places Australia in the Seventh Place game as the Aussies will meet Japan, which lost to China by an 8-7 score, on June 2 at 4:30 p.m. local time.
The loss marks the fifth defeat in as many contests for Australia at the FINA World League Super Final as the squad slipped against the Netherlands (7-5 L), host China (8-6 L) and Spain (10-9 L) in Group A before taking a 12-1 loss to Johnson and the United States in the quarterfinals.
The matches will stream live on FINA TV (subscription required) and can be accessed by CLICKING HERE.
