Walnut, CA - July 8 - The Team USA Men lost to Croatia 8-6 tonight in an exhibition match at Mt. San Antonio College. Ryder Dodd scored twice for the United States as Drew Holland recorded six saves in relief of Merrill Moses. Moses was honored after starting in the cage for Team USA as he retires from international competition.
In the opening quarter of the game, Croatia got on the board first with a pair of goals from Konstantin Kharkov and Andrija Bašic midway through the period. Team USA had an answer from Ryder Dodd who deposited back-to-back goals to close the quarter in a 2-2 tie. Kharkov regained the lead for Croatia on a man-up advantage to open the second period. The United States leveled the score on a beautiful move from Luca Cupido before Ante Vukicevic found the back of the net to give Croatia a 4-3 halftime lead.
After the halftime break, Croatia began to take control of this game. Kharkov and Vukicevic combined for a couple goals in the latter stages of the third to increase the Croatian lead to 6-3 heading to the fourth. To start the final frame, Marko Žuvela poured in another for Croatia, but Team USA would not go quietly. Minutes later, Hannes Daube and Marko Vavic got two consecutive scores to lift the Americans within two. With 2:38 to play, Johnny Hooper was whistled for a penalty and Kharkov converted the attempt from five meters. United States team captain Ben Hallock scored with time winding down and Croatia took this exhibition contest, 8-6.
Scoring - Stats via 6-8 Sports
USA 6 (2, 1, 0, 3) R. Dodd 2, B. Hallock 1, H. Daube 1, L. Cupido 1, M. Vavic 1
CRO 8 (2, 2, 2, 2) K. Kharkov 4, A. Vukicevic 2, M. Žuvela 1, A. Bašic 1
Penalties: USA 0/1, CRO 1/1
6-on-5: USA 2/12, CRO 1/7
Saves: USA 6 (D. Holland), CRO 11 (M. Bijac)
