USA Junior Men Down Serbia In Shootout To Reach U20 World Championship Semifinal Round

Zagreb, Croatia - The USA Men's Junior National Team delivered a thrilling victory in quarterfinal play at the World Aquatics U20 World Championship, defeating Serbia 19-18 in a shootout earlier today. Ryder Dodd put together a memorable outing leading all scorers with seven goals to guide the attack. Charles Mills had 10 saves and came up huge in the shootout, recording a penalty shot block to open the door for a Team USA win. Landon Akerstrom answered the call hitting the final shot for the United States to secure the win. Team USA now prepares to meet Hungary in the semifinal round on Friday 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 got off to a good start behind goals from Bode Brinkema and Dodd to open up a 2-0 lead. The two sides traded goals with William Schneider scoring for a 3-1 lead and Dodd adding another to take a 4-2 edge with 2:17 left in the period. Serbia battled back with two in a row to tie the game at 4-4 after the opening frame. Dodd stayed hot in the second quarter, scoring the first two goals for Team USA for a 6-4 lead roughly 90 seconds into the period. After Serbia tied the game moments later, Team USA answered with three straight scores from Peter Castillo, Benjamin Liechty and Max Zelikov to go in front 9-6 at intermission.

Serbia scored first to open the third but Akerstrom followed with a score for a 10-7 lead. Serbia kept chipping away, scoring two straight to cut the deficit to one at 10-9 with 3:02 remaining. Dodd polished off the scoring in the third, hitting for his fifth with 1:37 to go in the period, as Team USA went up 11-9 with playing moving to the fourth. Serbia started the final quarter trying to claw their way back but every time they scored, Dodd responded. His last tally in regulation gave the United States a 13-12 lead with 4:29 to play in the match. Jonathan Carcarey followed with a score at the 2:05 mark and Team USA looked to be in control leading by two with about two minutes to play. Serbia had other ideas. They scored on their next two possessions to even the match at 14-14 with :55 left in regulation. Each team would get looks, including a power play for the United States, but nothing came to fruition as the match moved to a shootout. 

The shootout was all business through three rounds with both sides converting. It was in the fourth round where Mills came up the huge block and Zelikov scored to put Team USA ahead 18-17. Serbia found the cage in the final round, putting the pressure back on the United States. That led to Akerstrom delivering the game-winner, vaulting the red, white and blue into the final four of the competition. 

Team USA went 3/8 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties in regulation while Serbia went 3/5 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties. 

Scoring - Stats
USA 19 (4, 5, 2, 3) (5) R. Dodd 7, B. Liecthy 1, L. Akerstrom 1, B. Brikema 1, M. Zelikov 1, P. Castillo 1, W. Schneider 1, J. Carcarey 1
SRB 18 (4, 2, 3, 5) (4) M. Dokanovic 3, R. Gajic 2, R. Dankovic 2, F. Novakovic 1, A. Jaukovic 1, L. Gladovic 1, V. Andelic 1, V. Conkic 1, K. Bodiroga 1, U. Admovic 1
Saves - USA - C. Mills 10 - SRB - M. Gosic 9
6x5 - USA - 3/8 - SRB - 3/5
Penalties - USA - 2/2 - SRB - 1/1
Shootout - USA - 5/5 - SRB - 4/5