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U.S. Men's National Univ. Team Downs Sweden, 4-1

02/10/2015, 12:00pm MST
By USAHockey.com

Team USA will next face defending gold medalist Canada in quarterfinal matchup tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. ET

GRANADA, Spain—The U.S. Men’s National University Team downed Sweden, 4-1, in a quarterfinal qualification matchup at the 2015 Winter World University Games today at Granada Sports Palace. The U.S will next face Canada, tomorrow (Feb. 11), in the quarterfinal round of competition.

The U.S. outshot Sweden 20-6 in the first period, but neither team managed a goal. However in the second frame, Sweden was first to get on the scoresheet. Team USA knotted the score at 10:31 of the period when Nicholas Zern (Auburn, Ind./Minot State University) scored with help from Bryce Johnson (Des Moines, Iowa/University of Oklahoma) and John Olen (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./University of Illinois). Sweden was awarded a penalty shot late in the period, but goaltender Matt Cooper (Duluth, Minn./Iowa State University) stopped Sweden’s Joel Backesten to keep the game tied.

In the third stanza, the U.S. scored three unanswered goals to seal the victory. First, Billy Balent (Waterford, Mich./Oakland University) notched the go-ahead goal at 10:57. Just over a minute later, Connor Schmidt (New Boston, Mich./Arizona State University) extended Team USA’s lead to 3-1. Then, with less than five minutes to play, while Sweden was on the power play and their goaltender pulled for a six-on-four man advantage, Eddie McGovern (Scottsdale, Ariz./Arizona State University) tallied an empty-net goal, giving the U.S. it’s final 4-1 margin.

Cooper, the U.S. goaltender, stopped 17 of 18 shots, including the Backesten penalty shot. Team USA outshot Sweden 61-18 in the contest.

The U.S. Men’s National University Team will face 2013 gold medalist Canada tomorrow (Feb. 11) at 2:30 p.m. ET in the quarterfinals. The game will be streamed live at WUGUSA.com. Check USAHockey.com for updates about both the men’s and women’s teams at the 2015 Winter World University Games.

Notes: Ten different players recorded at least one point in tonight’s contest. Connor Schmidt was the only multi-point scorer, picking up a goal and an assist. Click here for complete box score ... A rebroadcast of tonight’s game will air on CBS Sports Network Saturday at 10 a.m. ET. Click here to find your CBS Sports Network on your television provider. 

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

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