Team USA Warm Up with a Win!

Team USA faced off with FK Kurši yesterday as part of their preparation for the coming World Floorball Championships in Riga. After a hard fought 7-7 tie in regulation they came out on top with 8-7 after the penalty shootout.

Both teams came out strong but Team USA got the upper hand early. Half way into the first period defender Michael Binder blasts a shot from half court that eludes FK Kurši's goaltender. A few minutes later Reed Hearns is able to find Alexander McVey in front of the goal and he scores 2-0. Despite fine play by Team USA goaltender Lee Payne FK Kurši's Ivo Popovs is able to find the net at the end of the first, making it 2-1.

The second period sees a goal explosion. After early Team USA goals by Mattias Hansen and Robin Brown the Latvian elite team FK Kurši fight their way into the game and are able to make it 4-4 before the second is over. The game is an exciting one and the small arena without stands is jam packed.

The third period continues to be an even one. Terence Frank steps into goal for Team USA as has a solid effort. However Gints Siliņš is able to give FK Kurši the lead, 4-5, after a scramble in front of the USA net. After 7:26 of the third sharpshooter Mattias Hansen scores his second of the game, once again making it a tie. But FK Kurši keep coming back and retake the lead before U19 sniper William Eriksson scores his first Team USA goal to make it 6-6 after 8:26.

With under five minutes to go Kaspars Klamers gets a breakaway and retakes the lead. Team USA start substituting Terence Frank for a man advantage and in the end it pays off. Dribbler extraordinaire Robin Brown gets his second of the game and ties it at 7-7 from in close after a beautiful diagonal pass from Alexander Miller.

In the following penalty shootout Team USA gets goals by Alexander Granvald, Ryan Winkler and Reed Hearns. This combined with some timely saves by Lee Payne gives Team USA an 8-7 win heading into the World Floorball Championships.

Game stats can be found here.

For more pictures go to the USA Floorball Facebook page here.

The first game of the World Floorball Championships for Team USA will be against Thailand on Saturday at 12:00 P.M. local time. You can watch all of team USA's game at the World Floorball Championships for free on the IFF YouTube channel here.