MOORPARK, CA – It may not have looked very pretty, but the USA Men found a way to win today. Scoring two goals in the final four minutes lifted USA to a 3-2 victory over Trinidad.

 

For the third game in a row, Trinidad struck first in the eleventh minute, as they took advantage of the Americans inability to clear the ball from danger and used a pass across the middle to Akim Toussaint for an easy goal and a 1-0 lead.  Though the first half would go back-and-forth and remain scoreless the rest of the way, Trinidad’s ability to disrupt the USA attack gave them the momentum in the first thirty-five minutes.

“We looked sluggish today, absolutely, and they capitalized on that,” said Jon Ginolfi (Moorpark, CA).  “It’s games like today that we need to learn from in order to continue getting better so we can be successful in times when it matters most.”

 

As the second half opened it looked to be more of the same as the Americans continued to look disjointed on the pitch and frustrated by the Trinidad defense.  However, a penalty corner in the forty-sixth minute would help restore some confidence to the home team. A familiar sight in this series, Pat Harris (Moorpark, CA) once again found the net with a drag flick to tie the score at one apiece.  Not long after, the visitors earned a penalty corner of their own and executed a nice pass and deflection to take a 2-1 lead in the fiftieith minute.

With time winding down and the outcome looking bleak, newcomer Michiel Dijxhoorn (Tampa, FL) came to the rescue. Receiving a pass into the circle from Harris, Dijxhoorn placed his stick at a perfect angle to cause a deflection that found its way over the goalie and into the net in the sixty-sixth minute. 

With momentum suddenly turning their way, USA pressed forward and used a Trinidad turnover in the sixty-eighth minute to get the ball back into the offensive zone.  Ian Scally (Thousand Oaks, CA) passed to a waiting  Ginolfi, who used a 180-degree sweep shot to beat the keeper, grab the lead and secure the 3-2 victory for Team USA.

 

Overall USA had the advantage in shots today by a 7-5 margin with both teams getting three penalty corner opportunities. Ranveer Kundi was awarded his first Senior National Team cap today.

 

The USA looks took sweep the series as they play the final match tomorrow, Sunday, June 19^th at 8:30am (PDT).  Check back for updates and as always, GO USA!