BERKELEY, Calif. – June 28 – The U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Spain, 10-9, on Friday night at Speaker Aquatics Complex. The Golden Bears welcomed Team USA back to Berkeley. Luca Cupid He scored a hat-trick that night, Adrian Weinberg He made 17 saves in goal. Team USA and Spain will conclude the three-game series at Sacred Heart Prep on Sunday at 4 PM ET/1 PM PST. Live streaming is available on Overnght with live stats from 6-8 Sports.
Spain took the lead in this match, with Alvaro Granados scoring on their first attack, but the Americans were ready to fight back. Max Irving The score was soon tied. Alberto Munarriz put the visitors ahead again midway through the quarter, but Cupido tied the game with his first goal. Later in the game, Bernat Sanafca took advantage of a Spanish power play and scored a goal to give Spain the lead. Hannes Daube The United States had a similar result, with the teams tied at 3-3 after the first game.
In the second quarter, the USA stepped up defensively, with Weinberg making six saves. Offensively, the No. 3 Golden Bears Johnny Hooper The Americans took the lead again with a penalty shot. Ryder Dodd scored two goals at the end of the first half to give the U.S. team a 6-3 lead at halftime.
Two minutes into the third period, Daube extended the lead to four with a beautiful skip shot. Spain then went on a winning streak to finish the fourth period on a roll, scoring five straight goals from Brai Malarachi (3), Sanafja and Unai Beal to retake the lead at 8-7 at the start of the fourth period.
In the final frame, the teams went back and forth without a goal for nearly three minutes, leading to Hooper being sent off and Cupid being awarded the 2016-17 title. Chase Dodd With a numerical advantage, they scored the tying goal. Cupido put the USA back in the lead with a sidearm strike with just over two minutes remaining. Then, on a penalty for the USA, Sanafja took a five-meter shot, but Weinberg made a great save to delight the UC fans. Cupido then fired in a third goal with 12 seconds left to elicit a cheer and seal the win. Sanafja gave Spain a point with one second left, but it was too late, and the USA won, 10-9.
The USA was 4-for-11 on the power play and 1-for-1 in penalties, while Spain was 1-for-7 on the power play and 0-for-1 in penalties.
Scores – Statistics
USA 10 (3, 3, 1, 3) L. Cupido 3, H. Dove 2, R. Dodd 2, C. Dodd 1, J. Hooper 1, M. Irving 1
ESP 9 (3, 0, 5, 1) B. Malarraci 3, B. Sanafja 3, U. Biel 1, A. Granados 1, A. Munarriz 1
6×5 – USA – 4/11 – ESP – 1/7
Penalties – USA – 1/1 – ESP 0/1
Saves – USA – A. Weinberg 17 – ESP – U. Aguirre 11
