CHULA VISTA, Calif. - January 17, 2015 - Coming off a recovery day and training session on Saturday, the U.S. U-21 Men's National Team continued to make strides against Canada in the third match of the four-game test series. Team USA was poised and confident to keep the pressure high on the heels of Canada, who led the series 2-0 before the third game. After an 8-0 loss in the first game, Team USA worked and cut the goal deficit in half in match two making the needed adjustments. The third match set a phyiscal and high energy battle between two quality Pan American teams.
“Our level of play was a continued improvement from our previous matches this series," said Rutger Wiese, U.S. U-21 Men's National Team Coach. "International hockey is decided by key moments during a game. Uncharacteristic mistakes on our end came from our lack of discipline in those critical moments. Credit to Canada for taking advantage of those opportunities. Heading into the final game of this series, we must showcase what we have learned this week.”
Early in the contest, the game tested both the umpires and players as it depicted to be mental and physical battle. In the 14th minute, Canada earned a penalty corner which Ganga Singh drag flicked the ball past the right foot of Team USA's goalkeeper Nathan O'Lari (Orange, Mass.). Not started by the midway through the first half goal, Team USA kept the pressure high creating multiple opportunities outside of the penalty circle. Play continued to be a tough battle through the midfield with both teams creating a couple of chances each throughout the remainder of the half.
The second half saw the physical play increase from both teams. A Team USA turnover in the midfield in the 42nd minute lead to Canada's Kabir Aujla to drive hard into the circle and send a forehand shot into the upper corner of the cage, just over O'Lari's right shoulder. Play continued to show a physical demeanor as in a span of 10 minutes, four yellow cards were handed out resulting in both teams managing play with a man down at times. Both teams continued to exchange chances and it was not until the 68th minute when Canada took a quick free hit under little pressure from Team USA's defensive line and drove into the penalty circle and smashed a ball past Team USA's goalkeeper Ryan Torigian (Simi Valley, Calif.) to make the final score USA 0, Canada 3.
"We came out strong to start the match compared to the others, but we let ourselves slip on our defensive positioning in key areas of the field, " said O'Lari. "Two mental lapses in our decision making, lead to two great opportunities for Canada who was able to take advantage both times with their second and third goals.”
The series continues with the final game tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. PST.
