BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Princeton University athlete Jovana Sekulic and alumna/goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson assisted the United States in flummoxing France, 17-5, in the Americans’ fourth and final game in Group B competition at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Team USA – which downed Greece by a 15-6 score (July 27), suffered a 13-11 setback against Spain (July 29) and came off the canvas to upend Italy by a 10-3 count (July 31) – returned to its winning ways by outscoring France 3-1, 4-2, 6-2 and 4-0 in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, to wrap-up group play with a 3-1 mark.
Sekulic shot one-for-one in 15:44 of playing time by putting away a man-up opportunity with 48 seconds left in the first quarter to push the Americans out to a 3-1 lead. The tally increased her inaugural Olympic statistics to four goals on seven shots with a pair of steals.
Johnson continued to dominate on the international stage as the netminder stopped nine-of-14 scoring bids she faced with a steal and a trio of rebounds in 27:03 of time in cage. Overall, she turned aside eight-of-12 action shots and one-of-two man-up tries as the United States guillotined the French offense in coasting to a 12-goal victory.
Through the conclusion of group play, Johnson has made 41 saves with 25 goals allowed on 66 shots with three steals and a goal in 116:17 of time during the Americans’ four games.
Team USA – which clinched a berth in the quarterfinals thanks to the Americans 3-1 record in Group B play – awaits the outcome of the final games of the grouping to determine the time and opponent of the squad’s next match.
Complete results and links to live statistics for each women’s water polo game are available by CLICKING HERE.
