Team USA Takes Down Defending Olympic Champion Serbia 13-7 in First Game Back

Podgorica, Montenegro - January 27 - The Men's Senior National Team convincingly defeated defending Olympic Champion Serbia 13-7 in their first game of a two-game tournament in Podgorica, Montenegro on Wednesday afternoon. Alex Bowen and Matt Farmer powered Team USA's offense with three goals each while Drew Holland and Jack Turner split time in the net each recording six saves. Next up the Men's Senior National Team takes on hosts Montenegro on Friday, January 29 at 2:00 AM PT which you can follow by clicking here. Click here for stats from this game. For more on the tournament click here.
 
Team USA in their first game back in a little over a year got off to a quick start taking a 2-0 lead on goals from Johnny Hooper and Bennett Williams. Serbia wouldn't go down easily as they regrouped and battled back to tie the game at 2-2 on back to back possessions. After then exchanging goals Team USA got the final say in the quarter as Farmer fired home his first of the game to make it 4-3 at the end of the first. Team USA leaped out of the gates in the second as they scored three straight goals to stretch their advantage to 7-3. Hannes Daube would later score on a penalty shot before Serbia answered with a late goal as Team USA took an 8-5 lead at halftime.
 
Team USA continued their momentum in the third and took full control of the game as Max Irving opened the quarter with a goal to stretch Team USA's lead to 9-5. Serbia quickly pulled one back but then Farmer came up big on the power play and then scored again later in the quarter as Team USA took a commanding 11-6 lead into the final quarter. Team USA's defense continued to shut down Serbia while Bowen and Daube each found the net again as Team USA went on to win 13-7.
 
Team USA went 2/5 and power plays and 2/2 on penalties while Serbia went 2/7 on power plays and did not attempt a penalty.
 
Scoring:
USA 13 (4, 4, 3, 2) A. Bowen 3, M. Farmer 3, H. Daube 2, M. Irving 2, B. Williams 2, J. Hooper 1
SRB 7 (3, 2, 1, 1) S. Mitrovic 2, P. Velkic 2, N. Toholj 1, D. Gogov 1, P. Tomic 1
6x5 - USA - 2/5 - SRB - 2/7
Penalties - USA 2/2 - SRB 0/0
Saves - USA - D. Holland 6, J. Turner 6 - SRB - S. Zivojinovic 2, D. Risticevic 2