FUKUOKA, Japan — Princeton University alumna/two-time Olympic Gold Medalist goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson ’17 stopped 13-of-17 shots she faced and snagged a pair of steals to outduel former Indiana University Hoosier Jessica Gaudreault ’19 in cage as the United States garnered a 16-4 defeat of Canada to earn a spot in the 20th World Aquatics Championships Fifth Place game.
Courtesy the victory, the Americans will take on Hungary – which edged Greece by a 10-9 score – in the Fifth Place game on Friday, July 28, at 3:30 a.m. The loss drops Canada into the Seventh Place game versus Greece at 10:30 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, July 27.
Johnson – who turned aside eight-of-12 action shots, a chance from center, three man-up bids and a counter attack opportunity – received all the offensive support she would need as the Americans outscored their Northern neighbors 5-1, 2-1, 6-1 and 3-1 in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, in coasting to the victory.
Current Princeton standout Jovana Sekulic (Jr., Belgrade, Serbia/The Episcopal Academy (Pa.)) did not compete for the United States in the contest.
Across the tank, Gaudreault played the first three quarters and turned aside three-of-16 scoring tries as the United States converted on three-of-four action shots, two-of-three chances from center and five-of-six man-up opportunities and a trio of penalty shots. In addition, she picked off four steals.
On offense for Canada, fellow Hoosier Shae (Fournier) La Roche ’14 shot one-for-three on action shots in 20:42 of competition to account for a quarter of her squad’s offense.
