Rio Maior, Portugal - June 27 - The USA Youth Men's National Team opened play at the World Aquatics Youth World Championship with a 21-9 win over China earlier today.
Kai Kaneko led a big offensive output with four goals while
Jonas Ransford and
Rafael Suarez-Abraham combined for eight saves in cage. Team USA returns to the pool tomorrow against Italy at 11:30am et/8:30am pt. Live streaming of all matches is available via the World Aquatics YouTube page by
clicking here. Follow live stats by
clicking here.
China took the lead in the opening moments but Team USA responded with three straight, capped by Kaneko's first tally of the match for a 3-1 lead with 4:43 to go in the first quarter. After China got one back,
Dexter Black finished the quarter with a penalty shot score for a 4-2 lead. China battled back early in the second, drawing within one at 4-3. Team USA answered in convincing fashion scoring five straight to close out the period. Kaneko hit, followed by two straight from
Jett Taylor for a 7-3 lead.
Kenly Axline and
Grayson Taylor added to the barrage with goal of their own to make it 9-3 at halftime.
Team USA kept the pressure on in the third as four different scorers found the cage helping to counter three goals from China. The United States held a 13-6 advantage going to the fourth where they would deliver their best offensive performance of the day. A dominant eight-goal outburst in the final period silenced any hopes of a comeback from China.
Tyler Anderson started things off with a penalty shot score followed by goals from Kaneko, Shin and Black for a 17-7 lead with just under five minutes to play in the game. Over the final moments of the match the United States added on four more scores, two from Colman and a pair from the Taylor brothers as the team cruised to a 21-9 victory.
The United States went 3/5 on power plays and 3/5 on penalties while China went 2/8 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.
Scoring -
Stats
USA - 21 (4, 5, 4, 8) K. Kaneko 4, J. Taylor 3, D. Black 3, A. Shin 3, G. Taylor 2, G. Colman 2, K. Axline 1, W. Williamson 1, T. Tucker 1, T. Anderson 1
CHN - 9 (2, 1, 3, 3) Qui 4, Wang 2, Sun 1, Liu 1, Li 1
6x5 - USA - 3/5 - CHN - 2/8
Penalties - USA - 3/5 - CHN - 1/1
