Team USA generated several scoring chances to begin the second period, most notably a give-and-go opportunity for Declan Farmer and Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) that was ultimately denied by a diving save. After a series of stops by Team IPH, Farmer eventually found the back of the net off a feed from Roybal 5:47 into the period.
Rob Easley (Denver, Colo.) scored his first career National Sled Team goal off an assist from David Eustace (Stoneham, Mass.) with 7:49 left in the period to extend the lead to 5-1, and just 22 seconds later Eustace found his name on the scoresheet again, scoring his first goal of the season off a feed from captain Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.). Just over a minute later, Malik Jones was stopped on a breakaway, but Travis Dodson (Deming, N.M.) was there on the follow-up, batting the rebound past the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper.
The U.S. scored two goals in the final minute of the middle frame, including one by Farmer and another off the stick of Musselman to take a 9-1 lead headed into the third, which would ultimately prove to be the final score.
Griffin LaMarre (Haverhill, Mass.) picked up the win in the U.S. net with six saves in all 45 minutes of action.
The U.S. will play its second preliminary round game tomorrow (Sept. 25) against Czechia, with opening faceoff set for 1 p.m. ET. A live stream of the game will be available here.
NOTES: Ben Musselman was named the U.S. Player of the Game… The U.S. outshot Team IPH 42-9.
