Three local players helped the U.S. Women’s National Water Polo Team romp to the gold medal at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru on Saturday.
Jamie Neushul scored three goals and Kiley Neushul and Paige Hauschild added one apiece in a 24-4 win over Canada in the final. It was Team USA’s 59th straight victory and fifth straight Pan Am title.
The U.S. men’s team also won gold, beating Canada, 18-6. Their seventh straight Pan Am Games gold qualified them for the 2020 Olympics. Alex Bowen, Johnny Hooper and Ben Hallock each scored five goals.
Maggie Steffens got things started for the U.S. women with a goal in the opening 30 seconds and then added another two minutes later for a 2-0 lead. After Canada scored, Hauschild got her first goal in Lima moments later for 3-1 advantage with 3:52 left in the first period. Melissa Seidemann and Steffens followed with goals and Stephania Haralabidis closed out the period with a score for a commanding 6-1 lead.
Hauschild was activated and added to the roster for the final as Rachel Fattal and Alys Williams were unable to play due to illness. Hauschild didn’t suit up earlier in the tournament due to an injury suffered from the balcony collapse in a Gwangju, South Korea nightclub after Team USA won its third straight FINA World Championship. Team member Kaleigh Gilchrist, who also was injured in the collapse and required surgery, did not make the trip to Peru.
Kiley Neushul looks back at a successful summer and the effort Team USA put in to earn gold at #Lima2019. pic.twitter.com/Xzz5NYdpFZ
— USA Water Polo (@USAWP) August 10, 2019
Jamie Neushul scored two goals in the second period and one in the third as the U.S. expanded its lead to 23-4. Kiley Neushul scored in the final period.
In its six wins in Lima, the U.S. outscored its opponents by a margin of 142-24.
— Noozhawk Sports Editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.