Lima, Peru - August 10 - The USA Men's National Team defeated Canada 18-6 to win their seventh straight Pan American Games gold medal and in the process secure their qualification for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. After a close victory over Canada in group play by just two goals, Team USA left no doubt in this match as
Alex Bowen (Santee, CA/Stanford/NYAC),
Johnny Hooper (Los Angeles, CA/California/LA Premier) and
Ben Hallock (Westlake Village, CA/Stanford/LA Premier) all powered the offense with five goals apiece.
Alex Wolf (Huntington Beach, CA/UCLA/Bruin) picked up the victory in net turning aside 13 shots. Team USA finished play in Lima with a 6-0 record and outscored their opponents by a margin of 117-27. For more on the Pan American Games including schedules and results,
click here.
Hallock opened the scoring for Team USA a little over a minute into the match and Bowen followed not long after for a 2-0 lead with 6:16 left in the first. Less than a minute later
Luca Cupido (Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy/California/Olympic Club) cashed in off an assist from Bowen for a 3-0 lead. Canada followed with their first goal of the match but Bowen answered with a power play towards the end of the period and Team USA went in front 4-1.
The trio of Hallock, Bowen and Hooper did all the damage in the second quarter as all three scored two goals in the period to build a 10-2 cushion at halftime. Hallock scored on the first possession of the quarter, then Hooper followed a minute later with a score. Bowen found the back of the net with 5:53 left in the first half and Team USA went in front 7-1. Bowen scored again with 2:11 to go in the half but Canada responded with a goal moments later to make it 8-2. Hallock and Hooper answered with goals over the final 90 seconds and Team USA built an eight goal halftime lead.
The scoring slowed in the third quarter as just three combined goals were tallied. Canada struck first to draw within 10-3 but Hallock and Bowen closed the period with goals to grab a 12-3 lead going to the fourth. Team USA put the match away in the final eight minutes outscoring Canada 6-3. The two teams traded goals to start the quarter but then Hooper's score gave the United States a 15-5 lead with 3:39 to play in the match. Hallock followed moments later with another goal, then Hooper scored his last of the match and the United States was ahead 17-5 with 1:34 to go in the game. Canada scored one more goal but
Max Irving (Long Beach, CA/UCLA/NYAC) had the last word, connecting with four seconds left to secure the 18-6 victory.
Team USA went 12/19 on power plays and 1/2 on penalties while Canada went 3/13 on power plays with no penalties attempted.
Scoring -
Stats
USA 18 (4, 6, 2, 6) J. Hooper 5, A. Bowen 5, B. Hallock 5, M. Vavic 1, L. Cupido 1, M. Irving 1
CAN 6 (1, 1, 1, 3) A. Gardijan 2, G. Patterson 1, J. Blanchard 1, R. D'Souza 1, N. Constantin-Bicari 1
Saves - USA - A. Wolf 13 - M. Radenovic 10
6x5 - USA - 12/19 - CAN 3/13
Penalties - USA 1/2 - CAN 0/0
