San Diego, CA – The Men's Senior National Team took down defending Olympic Champion Serbia 13-12 in front of a sold out crowd at Cathedral Catholic High School on Wednesday night.
Ben Hallock scored four goals and
Alex Bowen added three to lead Team USA's offense while
Alex Wolf and
Jack Turner split time in the net combining for six saves. Next up the Men's Senior National Team takes on Serbia on Friday, December 20th at Torrance Aquatic Center in Torrance, CA.
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Team USA came streaking out of the gates as Hallock and
Max Irving found the back of the net on back to back possessions to put Team USA up 2-0. Serbia responded well as they finished the quarter on a 4-1 run to take a 4-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. Team USA replied with their own run as they outscored Serbia 4-1 with
Chancellor Ramirez firing home to put the USA up 7-5, but Serbia answered with a goal as Team USA took a one goal lead of 7-6 into halftime.
Serbia fought back in the third quarter as they went on a 2-1 run to tie the game at 8-8, but
Bennett Williams responded with his first Senior Team goal on the power play to put Team USA up 9-8 and Hallock added another on the power play before the end of the quarter to give Team USA a 10-8 advantage at the break. Serbia didn't let up though as they rallied to get within a goal three times before Bowen put Team USA back up on top by two at 13-11 on a penalty shot with 1:18 left. Serbia were able to pull a goal back late but it was to little to late as Team USA won 13-12.
Team USA went 5/11 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties while Serbia went 5/13 on power plays and did not attempt a penalty.
Scoring
USA 13 (3, 4, 3, 3) B. Hallock 4, A. Bowen 3, J. Hooper 1, B. Stevenson 1, L. Cupido 1, B. Williams 1, C. Ramirez 1, M. Irving 1
SRB 12 (4, 2, 2, 4) M. Aleksic 3, F. Filipovic 3, S. Rasovic 3, V. Rasovic 1, N. Vico 1, D. Gogov 1
6x5 - USA – 5/11 – SRB – 5/13
Penalties – USA – 2/2 – SRB – 0/0
Saves - USA – J. Turner and A. Wolf 6 - SRB - G. Pijetlovic 10