After shaking off some early nerves Team USA buckled down on offense and quickly built a 3-0 lead. Azevedo scored first taking a fine cross pass from Adam Wright (Seal Beach, CA) and finding the back of the net. After an Azevedo goal was waved off for being inside five meters he struck again on a 6x5 advantage taking a dish from Peter Hudnut (Encino, CA) out top and burying the shot. Following another exclusion with 1:57 remaining in the first period it was Layne Beaubien (Coronado, CA) entering the fray with a shot from the right side that lit the proverbial lamp and USA was rolling at 3-0.
Playing in front of a largely pro-China crowd the Chinese would not back down as they came back with a goal on a 6x5 advantage of their own with :39 ticks left in the first quarter to draw within two at 3-1. A chance for USA to put this one away early was squandered in the second period when China climbed back into the match with two more scores to the tie the game at 3-3. Yang Wang used a rebound off a blocked shot by Moses to score and then Zhidong Han added a tally redirecting a nifty lob pass from five meters. At that point it was all tied up but it wouldn't last long as Jesse Smith (Coronado, CA) found Azevedo on another player advantage to score as time wound down in the half. USA was in the lead 4-3 at intermission.
In the third stanza Team USA looked to pull away when Azevedo scored his fourth goal on a lob shot just over three minutes into the quarter. Then it was Beaubien coming through with a score on another 6x5 opportunity and the lead was quickly back to three at 6-3. China added a goal late in the period but the fourth quarter would belong to the USA. Center Ryan Bailey (Long Beach, CA) drew a five-meter penalty with 3:55 remaining in the game, Azevedo cashed in the penalty shot and USA was up 7-4. Smith hammered home the final nail in this one with a score at :28 seconds left in the game and Team USA had secured a four goal win to start play at the Olympics winning 8-4.
China failed on all four of their power play opportunities a large credit to Moses in the cage along with the team defense. Jeff Powers (San Luis Obispo, CA) added two steals and a field block to the defensive mix. USA was economical on the power play going 3/4 in addition to converting one penalty shot. Next up for Team USA will be a match with Italy on Tuesday, August 12, at 12:10pm (9:10pm PST August 11).
Flash Quotes:
"Obviously it was a win, a little nervous at the start, a little tight, and we struggled on offense at times and just couldn't put the game away. It was a good effort on defense, it got a little sloppy at times but we played well enough." -- Terry Schroeder, Head CoachOn Tony Azevedo "He played well, he kind of took his leadership role but we will need others to step up." -- Terry Schroeder, Head Coach
On getting past the first game "The first game is a big one, it takes the pressure off, and now we can focus on the next game and Italy and the rest of the stretch run." -- Terry Schroeder, Head Coach
On getting past the first game "Yeah of course it is important, we have alot of new guys coming in and China is getting better so it was good to get that first one." Tony Azevedo, Driver
"I got out there and try to do what needs to be done, credit my teammates for make some great passes to get me shots and to get me open. Defense was key, Merrill (Moses) played a great game, out of all the four goals only one was on him, he was awesome. On offense we struggled but the defense is what will carry us through this tournament." Tony Azevedo, Driver
Game Stats
USA - 8 (3,1,2,2) T. Azevedo 5, L. Beaubien 2, J. Smith 1CHN - 4 (1,2,1,0) B. Wang 2, J. Xie 1, Z. Liang 1
Saves - USA - M. Moses 11 - CHN - G. Weiging 6
6x5 - USA - 3/4 - CHN - 0/4
