Belgrade, Serbia - August 15 - The USA Men's Youth National Team picked up their first win at the FINA Youth World Championship as they defeated New Zealand 13-5 to close out group play. Christopher Arakelian scored three goals to lead the offense with Riley Clansen and Bernardo Herzer combining for seven saves in net. Team USA will now meet Spain in the crossover round on Tuesday at 2:30pm et/11:30am pt. Live streaming is available via FINA by clicking here. Live stats are available by clicking here. 

Team USA got off to a hot start as a goal from Peter Castillo put the squad up 3-1 with 4:20 to play in the first quarter. New Zealand battled back with two straight goals to tie the match at 3-3 after one. In the second quarter Castillo again delivered for the United States to take a 4-3 lead but that was short lived. New Zealand answered back again tying the game at 4-4 going into halftime. The second half was a different story as Team USA would outscore New Zealand 9-1 the rest of the way.

In the third quarter New Zealand's Taine Pickering scored to make it 6-5 with 3:35 to play in the quarter but they would get no closer. Will Schneider scored two straight for Team USA to build an 8-5 lead going to the fourth. The United States put the game away in the fourth. Arakelian opened and closed the quarter with goals, part of a five-goal burst for Team USA, as they took the match 13-5.

Team USA went 6/14 on power plays and 2/3 on penalties while New Zealand went 1/3 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties. 

Scoring - Stats
USA 13 (3, 1, 4, 5) C. Arakelian 3, W. Schneider 2, P. Castillo 2, B. Liechty 2, J. Tsotadze 1, R. Dodd 1, J. Burghardt 1, D. Mnatsakanian 1
NZL 5 (3, 1, 1, 0) E. Carrington 2, T. Pickering 1, A. Soldatovic 1, L. Frazer 1
Saves - USA - R. Clansen 5, B. Herzer 2 - NZL - M. Anderson, B. Frost - 9
6x5 - USA - 6/14 - NZL - 1/3
Penalties - USA - 2/3 - NZL - 2/2