FUKUOKA, Japan — Princeton University alumna/two-time Olympic Gold Medalist goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson ’17 came off the bench in a penalty shootout to help the cause as the United States earned a 15-13 defeat of Hungary in the Fifth Place game of the 20th World Aquatics Championships.
The Americans surged out to a 4-2 lead in the first quarter prior to Hungary knotting the score at five-all by halftime with a 3-1 scoring advantage in the second quarter. Leading 10-9 at the conclusion of the third quarter, the United States could not hold on to acquire a victory in regulation as Hungary outscored the reigning Olympic Champions 2-1 in the final frame to balance the scoreboard at 11-all.
Current Princeton Tiger Jovana Sekulic (Jr., Belgrade, Serbia/The Episcopal Academy (Pa.)) helped the Americans reach the penalty shootout as she converted on her only scoring attempt in 7:45 of action during regulation.
Facing the pressure of a penalty shootout to decide the game, Johnson replaced Team USA starting netminder Amanda Longan – who stopped 10-of-21 shots with a steal in regulation – at the start of the penalty shootout.
Coming in without touching the water during the entirety of the 32 minutes of regulation, Johnson deked Hungary’s Kamila Farago into a shot off the post prior to Ryann Neushul burying the Americans’ opening salvo to go ahead 1-0. Following a Johnson save of an effort by Kata Hajdu, Jenna Michelle Flynn handed Team USA a 2-0 lead. Rita Keszthelyi beat Johnson to move Hungary within 2-1, but Maggie Steffens delivered a response to make it 3-1. Dorottya Szilagyi inched Hungary within 3-2, but Jordan Raney iced the victory by swishing the United States’ fourth penalty shot in as many tries to close out the 15-13 victory.
