Four Women of Troy Complete Competition At FINA Junior World Championships

In a highly competitive field at this year's FINA Junior World Championships, USC had four representatives in action for two countries. After tough losses in the quarterfinals, the United States and Canada were left out of medal contention, but still, USC was well represented by its Trojan contingent out in Volos, Greece, the past week.

For Team USA, USC junior goalie Amanda Longan, sophomore Denise Mammolito and freshman Paige Hauschild all were impact players as the USA finished up in fifth place at the event. Canadian freshman Nina Ceklic also logged solid minutes for Canada in its eventual eighth-place finish. The four Women of Troy now return home to join their USC teammates, with Hauschild and Ceklic lined up for their first day of classes as true freshmen.

A 2016 NCAA Champion as a freshman at USC, Longan capped up for Team USA in the cage and hauled in 44 saves in seven appearances for the United States, including nine saves in the fifth-place game that saw USC edge out Hungary 4-2. Longan also came up huge during group play, making 13 saves against Spain and stopping a 5-meter penalty shot to keep a 9-9 tie intact late in the game. Team captain for the USA, Mammolito had provided the equalizer in that draw with Spain, and ended up as the team's second leading scorer at the tournament, compiling a total of 10 goals. Hauschild delivered seven goals for Team USA. For Longan and Hauschild it's been a particularly busy summer with the Stars & Stripes. The duo claimed gold medals with Team USA at the FINA World Championships in Budapest in July. The defensive-minded incoming freshman Ceklic scored once for Canada as she now heads to start her Trojan playing career alongside two other Canadian natives in senior Hayley McKelvey and freshman Verica Bakoc.

Players Mentioned

Amanda Longan

Denise Mammolito

Hayley McKelvey