U.S. Women’s Water Polo Tops Netherlands in Two-Game Series
The U.S. women’s water polo team picked up a pair of wins in the Netherlands, defeating the Dutch 12-6 on Jan. 8 and 16-9 on Jan. 9.
Rachel Fattal, Ryann Neushul and Jewel Roemer each scored hat tricks in the opening match in Ede. Isabel Williams stopped 13 shots as the U.S. led 6-1 at halftime. The Dutch got within three goals after three periods, but Fattal scored twice in the fourth to hold off the charge.
Lola Moolhuijzen scored twice to lead the Dutch, who are tuning up for the European Championships later this month.
A day later in Rotterdam, the Dutch leapt out to a 5-2 lead in the first quarter, but the U.S. rallied to lead 7-6 at half with five unanswered goals in the second quarter, then scored six times in the third.
Ava Stryker struck for two three of her five goals in the second quarter to pace the fightback. Paige Hauschild, who also scored five goals, netted twice in the third period, and Stryker added two more tallies in the fourth to seal it. Christine Carpenter bounced back to make nine saves.
Bente Rogge and Simone van de Kraats scored three times each for the Netherlands.
The match in Ede served as a farewell to the retiring Iris Wolves. She represented the Netherlands at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and Paris in 2024, winning bronze at the latter. The 31-year-old center forward was also part of the World Championships squad in Fukuoka that won gold and the European Champions in 2018 and 2024.
In Rotterdam, the Dutch celebrated the career of Brigitte Sleeking. Just 27, the wing stepped away from the national team in mid-2025 after being named World Aquatics Female Water Polo Player of the Year in 2023. She was part of that year’s world title team. Like Wolves, she took part in two Olympics, with bronze in Paris, plus two Worlds medals and two European golds.
