Courtesy UCLA Water Polo

GWANGJU, South Korea- July 8, 2015 — Team USA (3-1) rebounded from its first loss of the World University Games with an impressive 7-6 win over Serbia (2-2) in Group B play on July 8 at the 2015 World University Games at the Yeomju Indoor Aquatics Center.

Attacker Jack Fellner gave the Americans a 1-0 lead with a power play goal at the 6:57 mark of the first period. Mateja Asanovic tied it at 1-1 with a goal from the front court (5:17). Defender Anthony Daboub gave Team USA a 2-1 lead to end the scoring in the first (3:53) with a shot from long distance.

With over eight minutes surpassed without either team scoring, Serbia’s Dorde Lazic broke through with a goal from two meters to tie it at 2-2 with 2:59 left in the second quarter. The USA would take a 3-2 lead into the break with a power play goal from Fellner (1:51).

The Americans would race out to a 5-2 lead with back-to-back goals to open the third. Attacker Ryder Roberts netted his first goal at 6:38, followed by Fellner’s hat trick at 4:50. Rade Joksimovic scored a long distance goal to trim the lead to 5-3 (4:24) and then cut it to 5-4 with a power play goal from Ognjen Stojanovic (3:55). The Serbians scored their third straight goal to tie the match at 5-5 (2:50) with a strike from the front court by Drasko Gogov. Gogov would score a power play goal to end the scoring in the third with 1:06 left and Serbia leading 6-5.

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 and Team USA pitch a shut out in the fourth period. Center Alec Zwaneveld earned a penalty shot and Roberts converted it with 6:50 to go to tie the match at 6-6. After several great defesive stops by Team USA and a couple nice saves by Alex Wolf, The U.S. would have possession and call timeout with 1:19 remaining. But 17 seconds later, Serbia stole the ball and mounted an attack. Joksimovic’s shot would be stopped, setting up Roberts’ game-winning heroics. He completed his hat trick with :09 left from long distance to give USA a 7-6 victory.

The United States was 2-for-6 on power plays while Serbia was also 2-for-6. The USA made the only penalty shot of the game. Wolf ended ended the contest with eight saves.

Team USA concludes pool play on Friday (July 10) at 12:30 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. on July 9, Pacific) when they face China (0-3-1) in Group B action.

USA vs. Serbia (World University Games)

	1	2	3	4	F
USA	2	1	2	2	7
Serbia	1	1	4	0	6

USA Goals: Ryder Roberts 3, Jack Fellner 3, Anthony Daboub
USA Saves: Alex Wolf 8

Serbia Goals: Drasko Gogov 2, Mateja Asanovic, Rade Joksimovic, Dorde Lazic, Ognjen Stojanovic
Serbia Saves: Lazar Dobozanov 7