Courtesy UCLA Athletics

GWANGJU, South Korea -July 13, 2015- Team USA (6-2) won its first medal of any kind at the World University Games since winning gold in 1993 with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Serbia (3-1-4) in the bronze medal match of the 2015 World University Games on July 14 at the Yeomju Indoor Aquatics Center.

Maxwell Irving scored a game-high two goals, including the game-winner at the 5:40 mark of the fourth period.

After both teams put forth a strong defensive effort, holding each other scoreless in the first period, Serbia’s Nemanja Vico scored a goal at two meters for a 1-0 lead at the 7:07 mark of the second. Then Ryder Roberts got a steal and scored off a Kent Inoue assist on a 6-on-5 opportunity to tie it at 1-1 (5:45). Anthony Daboub then set up Jack Fellner as Team USA took a 2-1 lead (4:58). Chancellor Ramirez continued the great passing for the Americans, setting up a goal by Austin Rone as the lead was extended to 3-1 (1:49). Roberts then picked up an assist on a goal by Irving (1:04) to end the scoring in the first half with the U.S. leading 4-1.

Mateja Asanovic snapped Team USA’s four consecutive goals with a score from the front court to make it 4-2 at the 7:12 mark of the third period. Vico scored another goal from two meters to cut the lead to 4-3 (5:10) to end the scoring in the third.

Irving scored his second and the ultimate game-winner off another assist by Roberts to stop Serbia’s momentum to push the lead to 5-3 with 5:40 remaining in the match. Drasko Gogov scored on a power play for Serbia to cut the lead to 5-4 with 0:52 to go. After Matt Farmer‘s shot at two meters missed, the Americans got a huge steal from goalie Alex Wolf, that capped his stellar play all match long.

Wolf had a tournament-high 15 saves, stopping 15-of-19 shots by Serbia (79.0%). Serbia’s goalkeeper, Lazar Dobozanov, was credited with stopping 12 of America’s 17 shots (70.6%).

The United States was again let down by its power play offense, scoring on just 1-of-4 opportunities. But that was better than Serbia’s execution, which was just 1-for-6. Neither team attempted a penalty shot.

USA vs. Serbia (World University Games – Bronze Medal Match)

	1	2	3	4	F
Serbia	0	1	2	1	4
USA	0	4	0	1	5

Serbia Goals: Nemanja Vico 2, Mateja Asanovic 1, Drasko Gogov 1
Serbia Saves: Lazar Dobozanov 12

USA Goals: Maxwell Irving 2, Ryder Roberts 1, Jack Fellner 1, Austin Rone 1
USA Saves: Alex Wolf 15