Courtesy UCLA Athletics | Photo by: Onno Zwaneveld

GWANGJU, South Korea — The battle of the only remaining unbeaten teams in Group B went to Russia (3-0) as it defeated Team USA (2-1) by a count of 9-6 on July 6 at the 2015 World University Games at the Yeomju Indoor Aquatics Center.

Russia’s 25-year-old attacker, Kirill Nikolaenko, scored the first goal of the game on a penalty shot (6:05). Roman Shepelev made it 2-0 Russia with a goal from long distance with 5:18 left in the first. Then defender Anthony Daboubset up attacker Maxwell Irving for Team USA’s first score on a 6-on-5 opportunity (2:18). Then Daboub got in on the scoring on another power play as he took a feed from attacker Ryder Roberts and tied the game at 2-2 (1:36), ending the scoring in the first.

The second period saw Russia regain the lead at 3-2 when another 25-year-old attacker,
Igor Pliskevich, scored at two meters (7:32). But 15 seconds later, Roberts took a pass from center Alec Zwaneveld and found the back of the cage for a 3-3 tie (7:17). Then 26-year-old attacker, Alexey Ryzhov-Alenichev, scored on a counter attack to put Russia back in front, 4-3 with 2:37 left in the second quarter. Roberts would score his second of the match to tie things up at 4-4 (0:29) to end the scoring in the first half.

Adel Latypov gave Russia a 5-4 lead to open the scoring in the third (7:36). USA Attacker Jack Fellner scored his first of the game on a 6-on-5 opportunity to tie the match at 5-5 (5:42). Then the Americans got their first lead at 6-5 when Irving set up attacker Spencer Farrar for a score with 3:07 left, ending the scoring in the third.

Russia would dominate the scoring in the fourth period 4-0 to win the match. Andrey Balakirev scored the first goal of the quarter at set to tie the contest at 6-6 (6:23). Balakirev scored his second straight, this time on a power play, to put the Russians back in front, 7-6, with 5:24 remaining. Then after a steal, Russia got a breakaway goal from Adel Giniiatov (2:03) to make it 8-6. The Russians got an exclusion goal with 0:12 remaining from Vasilii Eskov to provide the 9-6 final.

Roberts would be the only American to score multiple goals with two in the match. Daboub had his best all-around game with two assists, two steals and a goal. Alex Wolf made his second straight start and was credited with six saves for Team USA. Eight different Russians scored as Balakirev led his team with two goals.

The United States was 3-for-6 on power plays while Russia was 2-for-6. The USA missed its only penalty shot while Russia converted its only penalty shot.

Team USA returns to action on Wednesday (July 8) at 3:30 p.m. local time (11:30 p.m. on July 7, Pacific) when they face Serbia (2-1) in Group B action.

USA vs. Russia (World University Games)

	1	2	3	4	F
USA	2	2	2	0	6
Russia	2	2	1	4	9

USA Goals: Ryder Roberts 2, Jack Fellner, Maxwell Irving, Anthony Daboub, Spencer Farrar
USA Saves: Alex Wolf 6

Russia Goals: Andrey Balakirev 2, Kirill Nikolaenko, Vasilii Eskov, Alexey Ryzhov-Alenichev, Igor Pliskevich, Adel Giniiatov, Adel Latypov, Roman Shepelev
Russia Saves: Petr Fedotov 16