USA Junior Men Defeat Iran 23-5 At U20 World Championships

Zagreb, Croatia - June 18 - The USA Men's Junior National Team defeated Iran 23-5 today at the U20 World Championships. Corbin Stanley scored a game-high four goals while Baxter Chelsom recorded 14 saves in the cage. Team USA advances to the quarterfinals against Serbia on Thursday at 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT. All matches are scheduled to stream live on the World Aquatics YouTube. Live statistics will be available for every match from MicroPlus Timing Services.

Team USA started strong and never looked back in this contest. Team captain Ryder Dodd opened the game with two counter attack goals followed by Bode Brinkema converting a penalty shot and Ryan Ohl scoring twice on another pair of counter attack strikes. Dodd put home another score before Iran managed one from Ali Shabanian but Kiefer Black would beat the buzzer late to send the United States to the second period ahead 7-1. More of the same came to fruition in the second eight minutes. Brinkema scored again, Stanley deposited his first two scores into the back of the net, Landon Akerstrom rang the register from five meters, and Black found another on a man-advantage. Iran would score one in the period via Mohammadmehdi Jafari and the Americans held a 12-2 lead at the break.

The United States dispelled any doubt to the outcome in the second half, beginning with three goals in the third quarter from Stanley, Ryan Ohl, and Max Zelikov while shutting out the Iranian offense for a 15-2 edge entering the final frame. In the fourth period, Connor Ohl joined the score sheet with a hat trick for Team USA who put away eight total goals to Iran's three to advance to the quarterfinals, 23-5.

Team USA went 4/5 on power plays and 3/4 on penalties while Iran went 0/2 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties. 

Scoring - Stats
USA 23 (7, 5, 3, 8) C. Stanley 4, R. Dodd 3, K. Black 3, C. Ohl 3, R. Ohl 3, M. Zelikov 3, L. Akerstrom 2, B. Brinkema 2
IRN 5 (1, 1, 0, 3) A. Shams 1, A. Abdollahifar 1, M. Jafari 1, M. Samaei 1, A. Shabanian 1
Saves - USA - B. Chelsom 14, C. Mills 2 - IRN - A. Amirian 7
6x5 - USA - 4/5 - IRN - 0/2
Penalties - USA - 3/4 - IRN - 1/1