USA Men Fall In Final Games To Wrap Up European Trip

Irvine, CA - February 17 - The Men's Senior National Team wrapped up their European training trip in Italy with two games against Spain and Italy last week. On Thursday, they fell to Spain 15-9 and followed that up with a 17-10 loss to Italy on Friday. Max Irving and Johnny Hooper led Team USA's offense with two goals each while Alex Wolf recorded 8 saves in the game against Spain. Hannes Daube, Luca Cupido and Alex Bowen each scored twice to lead Team USA's offense while Drew Holland notched 7 saves behind the net in the game against Italy. Following the completion of their trip the men's players who are competing in Europe have joined back up with their clubs. For more on Team USA abroad click here.
 
In the first game, Spain jumped out to a 5-3 lead in the first quarter. From there they took control as they outscored Team USA 5-1 to take a 10-4 lead at halftime. Team USA fought back in the third but Spain had an answer each time as they built a 13-6 lead at the end of the third quarter. Team USA continued fighting in the fourth but a comeback wasn't in the cards as they fell 15-9. Team USA went 2/8 on power plays and 2/3 on penalties while Spain was 3/6 on power plays and 3/3 on penalties
 
The second game against Italy proved to be tighter early on as the teams exchanged goals with Hooper scoring twice before Cupido then put Team USA ahead at 3-2. Italy answered with a goal to end the quarter as it was all level 3-3 going into the break. Italy took full control of the game in the second as they scored three straight to take a 6-3 lead. Alex Obert slowed the Italians momentum as he found the back of the next to make it 6-4 but Italy responded with two more to take an 8-4 advantage. Ben Hallock pulled a goal back before the quarter ended as Italy went into halftime up 8-5.
 
Team USA looked to seize the momentum in the third as Irving drilled home a goal to narrow Team USA's deficit to 8-6. That was as close as they would get though as Italy went on a 5-0 run to take a commanding 13-6 advantage. Alex Bowen would score a late goal as Team USA ended the third quarter trailing 13-7. Team USA tried to fight back in the fourth but for every goal they put up Italy had an answer as they went on to fall 17-10. Team USA went 4/12 on power plays and 3/3 on penalties while Italy went 9/14 on power plays and 0/1 on penalties
 
Scoring
USA 9 (3, 1, 2, 3) M. Irving 2, J. Hooper 2, L. Cupido 1, A. Obert 1, M. Vavic 1, A. Bowen 1, B. Stevenson 1
ESP 15 (5, 5, 3, 2)
Saves - USA - A. Wolf 8
6x5 - USA - 2/8 - ESP - 3/6
Penalties - USA - 2/3 - ESP - 3/3
 
USA 10 (3, 2, 2, 3) H. Daube 2, L. Cupido 2, A. Bowen 2, J. Hooper 1, A. Obert 1, B. Hallock 1, M. Irving 1
ITA 17 (3, 5, 5, 4)
Saves - USA - D. Holland 7
6x5 - USA - 4/12 - ITA - 9/14
Penalties - USA - 3/3 - ITA 0/1