Emily Ausmus, Lucy Haaland-Ford lead U.S. women’s national team to gold medal with 16-15 win against Spain at World Aquatics Under-20 Water Polo Championships

Lucy Haaland-Ford had a team-high four goals, along with an assist and a steal, and Emily Ausmus added two goals, two assists and two steals, as eight athletes scored for the United States national team in a 16-15 victory Saturday against Spain in the final of the World Aquatics Women’s Under-20 Water Polo Championships at the Salvador Aquatic Arena in Brazil.

Haaland-Ford, a recent graduate of San Marcos High and Stanford commit, was selected player of the match and USC sophomore Ausmus was recognized as tournament MVP for the Americans, who captured their record fifth gold medal, including the country’s first since 2015.

The U.S., which has nine all-time medals since the tournament began in 1995, also prevailed against Spain in the finals in both 2013 and 2015 in Greece, along with defeating Russia in 2005 and Australia in 2001.

The U.S. national team won its first gold medal at the World Aquatics Women’s Under-20 Water Polo Championships since 2015 with a 16-15 victory against Spain in Salvador, Brazil | Photo courtesy of CBDA

The Americans, led by JSerra head coach Ethan Damato, scored the most goals in a regulation final and the teams combined for the highest-scoring regulation championship match in tournament history.

Russia outlasted Greece with a 17-16 triumph in the 2017 championship after the teams were tied at 9-9 at the end of regulation. Russia prevailed by an 8-7 margin in the penalty shootout to contribute to the final outcome.

The U.S. defeated Spain twice in the 2015 tournament, including a 17-16 regulation win in pool play, before securing a 13-10 victory in the rematch in the final.

Kamryn Barone, a Stanford junior who scored twice, extended the Americans’ advantage to 16-13 following a goal Saturday with 2:12 remaining.

Spain, which reached its third consecutive World U-20 women’s final, scored twice in the final two minutes to close the deficit, before the U.S. ran out the clock to preserve the championship.

Cal junior Julia Bonaguidi had three goals and an assist, with San Marcos incoming senior and USC commit Charlotte Raisin contributing two goals and an assist for the Americans.

The U.S. also received goals from Orange Lutheran incoming senior and Stanford-bound Allison Cohen, Cal sophomore Rosalie Hassett and USC junior Meghan McAninch, in addition to eight saves from Stanford junior goalkeeper Christine Carpenter.

Ausmus finished the tournament with 21 goals, nine steals and three assists in six matches for the U.S., with Bonaguidi adding 16 goals, three steals and two assists.

USC standout Emily Ausmus had 21 goals, nine steals and three assists to earn tournament MVP for the U.S. at the World Aquatics Women’s Under-20 Water Polo Championships in Salvador, Brazil | Photo courtesy of CBDA

Carpenter recorded 41 saves and UCLA junior Lauren Steele added 17 saves in the tournament for the Americans.

Barone, Hassett and Raisin all scored eight goals at the event for the U.S., with Cohen adding seven goals, as well as Haaland-Ford and McAninch each contributing six goals and Las Lomas incoming senior and Stanford commit Lily Palma producing two goals.

Lucy Haaland-Ford, a San Marcos graduate and Stanford signee, scored four goals for the U.S. against Spain to earn player of the match in the final of the World Aquatics Women’s Under-20 Water Polo Championships in Salvador, Brazil | Photo courtesy of CBDA

Quinn Healy, a Stanford junior, and Carpenter also had goals in the tournament for the Americans, who twice prevailed in penalty shootouts to reach the final.

The U.S. knocked off Italy in Friday’s semifinals by a 13-11 margin, after the teams were tied at 9 following regulation.

Ausmus, Hassett, Cohen and McAninch all converted their penalty shots, with Carpenter recording a pair of saves for the Americans, who had produced a 14-6 pool-play win Aug. 12 against Italy.

During pool play, the U.S. held off Greece with a 15-14 victory Aug. 11 following the teams being deadlocked at 10 after regulation play had concluded.

Greece converted its first four penalty shots, but missed its final three opportunities, allowing Hassett to score for the second time in the shootout for the Americans, who also received successful attempts from Ausmus, Bonaguidi and Cohen.

The U.S. national team defeated Spain for the third time in the final of the World Aquatics Women’s Under-20 Water Polo Championships, along with victories in 2013 and 2015 | Photo courtesy of CBDA

The performance by the U.S. roster marked the first time in World U-20 Championships history that the Americans had both their men’s and women’s teams advance to the finals in the same year.

Spain secured a 14-11 victory June 21 against the U.S. in the World U-20 men’s final in Zagreb, Croatia. The Americans captured a bronze medal in the World U-20 men’s event in 2023 in Romania, with the U.S. finishing fifth at the women’s tournament in Portugal.

Damato, who has won nine CIF-Southern Section water polo titles in his coaching career, also guided the SET Black ‘A’ team – featuring Cohen on the roster – to its record third consecutive 18-under Platinum Division women’s crown July 27 at the USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics in Irvine.