Local players helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2026 World Aquatics World Cup Final with a 13-9 victory over Spain. Emily Ausmus was named Player of the Match with six goals scored, while goalkeeper Amanda Longan, from Oaks Christian High School and the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club, made 13 saves.
Local Talent Shines
Ryann Neushul, from Dos Pueblos High School and the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club, and Paige Hauschild, from San Marcos High School and the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club, also contributed to the win. The team’s victory marks a return to the top of the World Cup podium for Team USA after failing to qualify for the Final last year.
The game started with three scoreless minutes before Rachel Gazzaniga scored the first goal for Team USA. Spain answered, but Rachel Fattal powered home the Americans’ second goal, and Ausmus doubled the lead with a counter-attack strike. The Spanish got one back, but Ausmus beat the goalkeeper again to give the United States a 4-3 lead after the first period.
The second period started with a fantastic save from Longan, but she couldn’t stop Spain’s lone penalty shot. Team USA returned the favor when Ausmus drew a penalty foul and Neushul converted the attempt. Ausmus got out in front of the defense on a counter-attack and registered a first-half hat-trick with her third goal.
The Spanish got the first goal of the second half, but Neushul notched her second score. Spain tied the game with back-to-back goals before Hauschild sent a perfect lob pass over the defense to Fattal to retake the lead. Ausmus put two more away to continue her big night, but Spain scored in the final ten seconds of the quarter for an 11-9 American advantage.
The final frame began with two great saves from Longan, and then Jordan Raney sent a beautiful lob shot in for her first goal. From there, the United States took control of the match with stifling defense and smart ball control. Raney duplicated her deft lob shot late to put the finishing touches on the 13-9 victory.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
