BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Princeton University alumna Ashleigh Johnson made stopped 10-of-21 shots she faced as the United States of America fell to the Netherlands, 11-10, in the Bronze Medal game at the 2024 Olympics in the Paris La Defense Arena.
The loss results in the United States returning home without a medal in women’s water polo for the first time in the history of the sport as the team previously claimed Gold (2012 – London; 2016 – Rio de Janeiro; 2020/2021 – Tokyo), Silver (2000 – Sydney; 2008 – Beijing) and Bronze (2004 – Athens) Medal finishes.
Johnson turned stopped seven-of-10 action shots, zero-of-one center shots, two-of-six man-up chances, one-of-one six meter shots, zero-of-two penalty shots and zero-of-one counter attack opportunities to go along with three steals and three rebounds.
In seven games at the Olympics, she posted 80 saves and 54 goals allowed on 134 shots with seven steals, four rebounds and a goal in 212:17 of time guarding the cage.
Current Princeton athlete Jovana Sekulic played 13:09 against Greece to conclude the Olympics with five goals on 11 shots with a pair of steals in the Americans’ seven games.
Leading 3-2, 7-3 and 9-6 at the conclusion of the first, second and third quarters, respectively, the Americans were unable to hang on as Greece outscored Team U.S.A. 5-1 over the final eight minutes of regulation to claim the Bronze Medal.
Sabrina van der Sloot tallied a penalty shot with 7:11 left in the fourth quarter to move the Greeks within a pair at 9-7. Jenna Flynn responded for the Americans with a man-up strike at 4:26. However the remainder of the contest was the domain of Greece as Vivian Sevenich (3:14, center shot), Bente Rogge (1:00, man-up) and van der Sloot (one second, action shot) ticked off back-to-back-to-back tallies to beat the buzzer and hand the United States a one-goal loss.
For Greece, van der Sloot shot six-for-seven from the field, while Sevenich (two goals), Lola Moolhuijzen (one goal) Simone van de Kraats (one goal) and Rogge (one goal) also tossed in markers to support an eight save effort by goalkeeper Laura Aarts.
Complete results and links to statistics for each women’s water polo game are available by CLICKING HERE.
