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Men's National Univ. Team Trumps Kazakhstan, 3-2, in Shootout

By USAHockey.com, 02/07/15, 3:45PM MST

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Bryce Johnson gives Team USA the win with toe-drag shootout goal

GRANADA, Spain—The U.S. Men’s National University Team picked up its first win of the 2015 Winter World University Games, beating Kazakhstan 3-2 in shootout. Goaltender Matt Cooper (Duluth, Minn./Iowa State University) made 26 saves, plus three in the shootout, while Bryce Johnson (Des Moines, Iowa/University of Oklahoma) scored the only goal for either team in the shootout to give the U.S. the victory.

"It was great victory for us. For the first time, since we have been together, we came together as a team from top to bottom," said Scott Balboni, head coach of the U.S. Men's National University Team. "Each person did their job, and it resulted in a solid overall performance and a good win versus last year's silver medalists."

The United States opened the scoring at 7:52 of the first period when Joey Breslin (Centerville, Ohio/Ohio University) took a shot from the left circle that bounced off Luke Hannon (Buffalo, N.Y./Liberty University) and past Kazakhstan goaltender Mikhail Smolnikov.

In the second stanza, Team USA doubled its lead just 1:29 into the frame. Connor Schmidt (New Boston, Mich./Arizona State University) took a shot from the left point, and Eddie McGovern (Scottsdale, Ariz./ Arizona State University) corralled the rebound for a second shot, which deflected off Bobby Bodette (Garden, Mich./Adrian College) and in for the 2-0 lead. Kazakhstan halved Team USA’s lead at 9:37 of the middle frame.

The U.S. held its lead until the final minute of the third when Kazakhstan netted the equalizer, sending the game to overtime and then the shootout. The U.S. shot second, and Johnson, its first shooter, scored the only shootout goal, toe-dragging around the Kazakhstan goaltender and flipping the puck just over his stick to give the U.S. the 3-2 victory.

The U.S. Men’s National University Team will be back in action on Tuesday (Feb. 10) in a game to qualify for the quarterfinal round of the tournament. Team USA’s opponent will be determined tomorrow following the close of the preliminary round and the re-seeding of all 12 competing teams based on points.

Schedule for Women's Team USA at 2015 Winter World University Games

Date Opponent Result/Time (Local/ET)
Sun., Feb. 1 Spain
(Pre-Tournament)
W, 6-0
Thu., Feb. 5 China L, 1-2
Sat., Feb. 7 Japan L, 1-4
Mon., Feb. 9 Spain W, 9-1
Tue., Feb. 10 Kazakhstan
(Relegation)
W, 3-2 OT
Fri., Feb. 13 Spain
(Relegation)
W, 9-0