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U.S. Men's National Univ. Team Defeats Korea, 8-3

02/13/2015, 11:45am MST
By USAHockey.com

Sam Brewster's four-point night helps drive offensive effort

GRANADA, Spain—Sam Brewster (Plano, Texas/Stony Brook University) notched three goals in the U.S. Men’s National University Team’s 8-3 win over Korea today at Mulhacen Pavilion. Luke Hannon (Buffalo, N.Y./Liberty University) and Connor Schmidt (New Boston, Mich./Arizona State University) also made their presence felt, adding three assists apiece in the winning effort. With the victory, Team USA finishes seventh in the 2015 Winter World University Games, which conclude tomorrow (Feb. 14).

“Obviously, we did not have the final finish that we wanted, but I am extremely proud of how hard our guys worked with a really tough draw and schedule at this year's tournament," said Scott Balboni, head coach of the 2015. U.S. Men's National University Team. "The quality of student athlete that we are bringing to these games continues to grow and, with the tremendous support of USA Hockey, I look for the 2017 U.S. team to be one to contend with at the next games.”

Korea opened the scoring just 2:38 into the first period when Hyeonkuk Cho put the puck past U.S. goaltender Matt Cooper (Duluth, Minn./Iowa State University), but at 8:56, Joey Breslin (Centeville, Ohio/Ohio University) notched the equalizer with help from Hannon and Eddie McGovern (Scottsdale, Ariz./Arizona State University).

In the middle stanza, Team USA scored four unanswered goals to generate a 5-1 lead. First, 2:45 into the frame, Nicholas Zern (Auburn, Ind./Minot State University) tallied the go-ahead goal on the power play. Bryce Johnson (Des Moines, Iowa/University of Oklahoma) and J.P. Kascsak (Springfield, Va./Iowa State University) picked up assists on the play. Just 3:31 later, Mico Solorzano (San Jose, Calif./University of Oklahoma) scored Team USA’s third goal. Brewster and John Olen (Hawthorn Woods, Ind./University of Illinois) then tallied goals 32 seconds apart to give the U.S. a 5-1 lead heading into the final frame.

Early in the third period, Brewster picked up his second goal of the game, however, Korea’s Yoonseok Kang answered to cut Team USA’s lead back to four goals. Then, Kascsak netted the seventh U.S. goal at 13:58 of the frame. About three minutes later, Brewster found the back of the net to complete his hat trick and give Team USA an 8-2 lead. With less than five minutes in the game, Korea’s Yoonseok notched another marker for the 8-3 final.

Team USA outshot Korea 46-24, including 39-16 through the final two periods. U.S. goaltender Cooper stopped 21 of 24 shots he faced.

With tonight’s victory, the U.S. Men’s National University Team finishes seventh at the 2015 Winter World University Games.

Notes: Connor Schmidt ranks third in assists for the tournament with seven. Matt Cooper is third among goaltenders in save percentage with .918 … Joey Breslin (3-5—8) and Schmidt (1-7—8) led the U.S. in team scoring with eight points apiece.

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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