Team USA beat Serbia in a 28-goal match in the first round of a three-nation tournament in Texas. The Americans defeated the Serbs by four goals – 16:12 in the match played in Lewisville.
Three-nation tournament, Texas, Day 1
Serbia – USA 12:16 (3:3, 3:2, 3:8, 3:3)
Serbia: Dobozanov, Dimitrijevic, S.Rasović 2, Randjelovic, Lazic, Pljevancic 1, Drasovic 4, Jaksic 1, Janković, Ubovic 1, Stojanovic 2, Vucinić 1, B.Mitrovic, Radulovic. Head coach: Stevanovic
USA: Turner, Hooper 1, Vavic 1, Abramson, Daube 2, Cupido, Hallock 2, Woodhead 1, Bowen 3, Dodd 3, Ehrhards 1, Irving 2, Weinberg, Kangiewicz. Head coach: Udovicic.
Serbia led for most of the first quarter. The visitors took a one-goal lead three times, but the Americans leveled on each occasion.
In the 11th minute, Max Irving converted a penalty to put the USA in front (4:3). Still, the Serbs responded with three unanswered goals. Nikola Jaksic made it 6:4 with 11 seconds to play in the first half. Marko Vavic beat the buzzer and halved the deficit (5:6).
Team USA dominated the third period. The hosts opened the second half with three straight goals to earn an 8:6 lead. Ubovic gave Serbia hope by converting a man-up for 7:8 in the 20th minute. Shortly after, Serbia’s Radulovic and USA’s Marko Vavic were red-carded because of punching over the water. So, both teams had five field players in the next four minutes. The Americans handled better in that situation and built a 4-goal lead before the final period (13:9). Alex Bowen scored twice early in the fourth quarter to make it 15:9. Serbia couldn’t come back, but it cut the deficit.
Spain will play against Serbia in the second round of the tournament.
