Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Water Polo
Ashleigh Johnson '17 (top row, second from right) won a gold medal for Team USA to complete Princeton's magical 16 days in Rio.
Photo by: Jeff Cable/USAWP
Medal Madness! Johnson Wins Gold, Matheson Claims Bronze To Cap Incredible Tiger Journey In Rio
August 19, 2016 | Women's Soccer, Women's Water Polo
The Princeton 2016 Olympics Central page
The Olympic journey for 13 Princeton Tigers had already been an incredible one, but it was punctuated in style Friday.
Ashleigh Johnson '17 and Diana Matheson '08 claimed gold and bronze medals, respectively, over the span of two hours to complete Princeton's 2016 Olympic joruney in Rio. The victorious conclusion left Princeton with three medals for the 2016 Games; Gevvie Stone '07 won silver in the women's single sculls (rowing) the previous weekend.
Matheson, who scored the winning goal to clinch a bronze medal for the Canadian women's soccer team in the 2012 London Games, picked up another bronze medal at the expense of the host nation. This time, a couple of Matheson's teammates did the scoring, but the result was the same: an Olympic medal will come home to Canada for the 2008 Princeton graduate and her Canadian soccer teammates.
Canada went unbeaten heading into an Olympic semifinal match with Germany Tuesday before the Germans dealt Canada its first loss of the Games, 2-0. Three days later, the Canadians had to regroup to face a Brazilian side looking to secure a medal on its own soil.Â
Deanne Rose staked Canada to a lead with her 25th-minute goal and Christine Sinclair, Canada's all-time leading scorer, doubled it in the 52nd minute before Brazil made it a one-goal game again with a goal from Beatriz in the 79th, but Canada held on for the 2-1 win. Matheson started the first two group-stage games before sitting out the third once Canada had clinched a knockout-round spot, and after getting a start in the quarterfinal win over France, Matheson was a substitute in the semifinal loss to Germany. She was back in the starting lineup Friday and played the first 65-plus minutes before departing with Canada up 2-0.
Four years ago, Matheson's stoppage-time goal put Canada over France 1-0 for the country's first-ever women's soccer medal, and now it's a pair.
With a silver and bronze already in Princeton's possession, it was time to seek the top spot on the medal podium. Johnson led the American women's water polo team through an unbeaten run to the finals, where Team USA faced an also-unbeaten Italy. The American side, which won gold in London as well, scored with nine seconds left in the first period to open a 4-1 lead, but Italy got within two goals (5-3) at halftime.
The third quarter was the golden one for Team USA, as Johnson and Co. put the clamp down on the Italians. The Americans scored four goals and Johnson stopped a penalty shot to open a 9-4 lead with one period remaining. The lead improved to 11-4 before the Americans put in their reserves, including goaltender Sami Hill. Johnson swam out of the Olympic Aquatic Stadium pool as a gold medalist; the next time she is back in goal, it will be in Orange and Black, trying to lead Princeton back to a CWPA title and to the NCAA tournament.
"We took a moment, took a deep breath, looked each other in the eye and said, 'We're champions,'Â " Johnson said afterward, from a story in the Miami Herald.
Johnson completed her Olympic debut with 51 saves and only 28 goals allowed.
And a gold medal.
Quite a journey for Johnson, and for all 13 Princetonians in Rio.
The Olympic journey for 13 Princeton Tigers had already been an incredible one, but it was punctuated in style Friday.
Ashleigh Johnson '17 and Diana Matheson '08 claimed gold and bronze medals, respectively, over the span of two hours to complete Princeton's 2016 Olympic joruney in Rio. The victorious conclusion left Princeton with three medals for the 2016 Games; Gevvie Stone '07 won silver in the women's single sculls (rowing) the previous weekend.
Matheson, who scored the winning goal to clinch a bronze medal for the Canadian women's soccer team in the 2012 London Games, picked up another bronze medal at the expense of the host nation. This time, a couple of Matheson's teammates did the scoring, but the result was the same: an Olympic medal will come home to Canada for the 2008 Princeton graduate and her Canadian soccer teammates.
Canada went unbeaten heading into an Olympic semifinal match with Germany Tuesday before the Germans dealt Canada its first loss of the Games, 2-0. Three days later, the Canadians had to regroup to face a Brazilian side looking to secure a medal on its own soil.Â
Deanne Rose staked Canada to a lead with her 25th-minute goal and Christine Sinclair, Canada's all-time leading scorer, doubled it in the 52nd minute before Brazil made it a one-goal game again with a goal from Beatriz in the 79th, but Canada held on for the 2-1 win. Matheson started the first two group-stage games before sitting out the third once Canada had clinched a knockout-round spot, and after getting a start in the quarterfinal win over France, Matheson was a substitute in the semifinal loss to Germany. She was back in the starting lineup Friday and played the first 65-plus minutes before departing with Canada up 2-0.
Four years ago, Matheson's stoppage-time goal put Canada over France 1-0 for the country's first-ever women's soccer medal, and now it's a pair.
With a silver and bronze already in Princeton's possession, it was time to seek the top spot on the medal podium. Johnson led the American women's water polo team through an unbeaten run to the finals, where Team USA faced an also-unbeaten Italy. The American side, which won gold in London as well, scored with nine seconds left in the first period to open a 4-1 lead, but Italy got within two goals (5-3) at halftime.
The third quarter was the golden one for Team USA, as Johnson and Co. put the clamp down on the Italians. The Americans scored four goals and Johnson stopped a penalty shot to open a 9-4 lead with one period remaining. The lead improved to 11-4 before the Americans put in their reserves, including goaltender Sami Hill. Johnson swam out of the Olympic Aquatic Stadium pool as a gold medalist; the next time she is back in goal, it will be in Orange and Black, trying to lead Princeton back to a CWPA title and to the NCAA tournament.
"We took a moment, took a deep breath, looked each other in the eye and said, 'We're champions,'Â " Johnson said afterward, from a story in the Miami Herald.
Johnson completed her Olympic debut with 51 saves and only 28 goals allowed.
And a gold medal.
Quite a journey for Johnson, and for all 13 Princetonians in Rio.
Miami's Ashleigh Johnson wins gold with U.S. water polo team. #Rio2016 https://t.co/bk1UwvgjVw pic.twitter.com/6wgSMTX9GF
— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) August 19, 2016
Women's Soccer Highlights at Miami, 9-4-25
Thursday, September 04
Alexandra Barry's Goal vs. Ohio State, 8-28-25
Thursday, August 28
Zoe Markesini Defensive Player of the Week Highlights, 8-25-25
Monday, August 25
Zoe Markesini's goal at Loyola, 8-24-25
Sunday, August 24