A Tough Loss

After a convincing 18-1 victory in their first game of the 2007 FINA Women's Junior World Championships it was a different story on day two for the Team USA Junior Women's National Team as they fell to Hungary in a heart breaker 11-10

The first quarter of play was all even as the squads were tied at four headed to the second period. Team USA received their goals via a hat trick from Tanya Gandy and a single score put home by Lauren Silver. The second stanza would see Team USA build a halftime lead as they outscored the Hungarians 3-2. Silver again answered the call finding the back of the net while Kameryn Craig tacked on two scores of her own.

Emerging from the intermission holding an 7-6 lead the third quarter produced another even showing as both teams notched two scores apiece leaving the game at a one goal advantage for Team USA 9-8 as played moved to the fourth. In the third all the scoring came from Silver as she tallied four goals on the day.

The fourth quarter is where Hungary was able to do damage when they outscored Team USA 3-1 including two tallies late en route to the one goal victory. In that quarter the lone American goal came from Gandy who like Silver ended her day with four scores.

Amber Oland played the whole way in net denying seven Hungarian shots and Team USA went four out of nine on man up scenarios while Hungary cashed in on six out of ten in their opportunities.

"We played well in many aspects of the game, but mental errors late were costly. The team is ready to bounce back tomorrow against Germany and then we'll know what our path through the rest of the tournament looks like," commented head coach Kyle Utsumi.

Next up on the docket for Team USA will be that aforementioned Wednesday matchup with Germany as they finish up group play. At 1-1 the team is now in second place behind Hungary who currently has a perfect 2-0 record.

-Taken from USAWaterPolo.org