Coimbra, Portugal – September 13 – The U.S. Women’s Junior National Team lost 17-16 to the Netherlands today in the quarterfinals at the 2023 World Aquatics Junior World Championships. Jenna Flynn scored six goals in the contest and Julia Bonaguidi added four scores for the United States. Team USA is back in action tomorrow against Israel at 10:30am et/7:30am pt. Live streaming can be accessed here.

Emily Ausmus got things started with the opening goal of the match and then dished an assist to Flynn moments later to go ahead by two. The Netherlands answered when left-hander Aniek Roekevisch skipped one home but the United States earned a penalty shot on the next possession that Flynn buried to regain the two goal edge. Two and a half minutes later, Ava Stryker extended the lead with a nice skip shot under the goalkeeper’s outstretched arms. Lola Moolhuijzen had another for the Netherlands before Bonaguidi took advantage on an American power play opportunity. Anna Pearson shed the defense and rang the register from inside prior to Amalia Christodoulou-Out converting on a Dutch player advantage to make the score 6-3 in favor of Team USA after one quarter of play.

The Netherlands got on the board first to begin the second period when Moolhuijzen snuck one past the USA defense. Moolhuijzen had a chance for a first half hat trick on an ensuing penalty shot but was denied by Christine Carpenter. Lois Den Ouden brought the Dutch within one before Bonaguidi deposited her second of the contest midway through the second. Flynn recorded a hat trick with her third goal via a penalty strike before Moolhuijzen did the same off a rocket from the outside. Under a minute to play in the half, Christodoulou-Out scored her second goal and then Moolhuijzen beat the buzzer to knot the score at 8-8 heading into halftime.

After a brief goalless stretch to begin the third quarter, Ausmus found Flynn to regain the lead for the United States. Den Ouden tied things up on a player advantage then Ausmus took care of business on a penalty shot goal to go back up one. The United States earned a power play and Flynn found an opening for her fifth score. The Dutch would not go quietly as Renee De Kleer found the back of the net to cut the deficit to one, 11-10, at the end of the third period.

Den Ouden lofted home the first goal of the final frame and the game was tied again before Rachel Gazzaniga skipped one home to regain an edge for the Americans. Roekevisch was left all alone for the Netherlands on a player advantage and she took advantage from the right side. Bonaguidi was quick to answer for the United States. With just 0:11 remaining, Feline Isolda Voordouw tied the score for the Dutch and this quarterfinal headed to a penalty shootout all knotted at 13-13.

Flynn, Stryker, and Bonaguidi converted from five meters, but Team USA came up short as Carpenter was only able to save one Dutch penalty and Moolhuijzen hit the game-winner.

Stats via World Aquatics

USA 16 (6, 2, 3, 2, 3) J. Flynn 6, J. Bonaguidi 4, E. Ausmus 2, A. Stryker 2, R. Gazzaniga 1, A. Pearson 1

NED 17 (3, 5, 2, 3, 4) L. Moolhuijzen 5, L. Den Ouden 3, A. Roekevisch 3, A. Christodoulou-Out 2, F. Voordouw 2, R. De Kleer 1, N. De Vries 1

Penalties: USA 6/9, NED 4/7