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GWANGJU, South Korea -- The USA improved to 2-0 in Preliminary Group B action with a 12-8 win over Turkey (0-2) on July 4 at the 2015 World University Games at the Yeomju Indoor Aquatics Center.
Turkey's Nesfet togkan Ozbek scored a power play goal at the 7:25 mark to open the scoring. Defender Chancellor Ramirez set up attacker Jack Fellner for the first goal for Team USA (6:21). Turkey took a 2-1 lead with another 6-on-5 goal, this time by Berk Biyik at the 5:46 mark. But attacker Ryder Roberts would score back-to-back goals to give USA a 3-2 lead. The first was assisted by Fellner (3:53) and the second by attacker Maxwell Irving (3:06). Turkey's Alican Cagatay knotted it up at 3-3 to end the scoring in the first with an exclusion goal (1:30).
The second period would be a little more defensive-minded as neither team would score until the United States would break the tie to go up 4-3 on a counter attack score by defender Anthony Daboub (assisted by attacker Jack Grover) with 3:53 to go in the second period. Roberts would complete a hat trick, giving the Americans a 5-3 lead (1:26). Cagatay would net his second of the match on yet another power play goal for Turkey with just three seconds left to end the scoring in the first half with USA leading 5-4.
Team USA came out red hot in the third and pushed the lead to 7-4 after a penalty shot score from Irving (drawn by center Matt Farmer, 7:33) and a second counter attack strike from Daboub (6:53). But Turkey would score back-to-back goals to trim the lead to 7-6. Can Gozusulu scored Turkey's first goal at full strength (6:13) and then Cagatay scored his third exclusion goal with 5:22 to go in the third. Roberts would then score his fourth on a 6-on-5 opportunity (4:52). Fellner's second goal, this one on a counter attack assisted by goalkeeper Alex Wolf (3:17) would give the U.S. a comfortable 9-6 advantage. USA would end the third period with a 10-6 lead thanks to Irving's second goal of the game on an assist by Daboub (0:35).
Fellner opened the fourth by completing a hat trick to extend the lead to 11-6 (assisted by attacker Kent Inoue, 6:07). Ali can Yilmaz would put an end to the USA's four consecutive goals with a power play score. The 26-year-old center would cut the lead to 11-7 with 4:55 to go. But Fellner would score his fourth of the match, assisted by Roberts, to put Team USA up 12-7 with 4:18 remaining. Gozusulu's second score pulled Turkey to within four goals (3:11) but the Americans would shut them out the rest of the way to provide the 12-8 final.
Fellner and Roberts would tie for the team lead, each scoring four goals for Team USA. Alex Wolf would get the start in the cage for the Americans and he was credited with 12 saves (on 20 shots). Six of the eight goals he surrendered were on power play opportunities for Turkey. Daboub and Irving would each net two goals for Team USA. Cagatay finished with three goals to lead Turkey.
The United States was 1-for-3 on power plays while Turkey was 6-for-11. The USA converted the game's only penalty shot.
Team USA returns to action on Monday (July 6) at 3:30 p.m. local time (11:30 p.m. on July 5, Pacific) when they face Russia in Group B action.
USA vs. Turkey (World University Games)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| USA | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 12 |
| Turkey | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
USA Goals: Jack Fellner 4, Ryder Roberts 4, Maxwell Irving 2, Anthony Daboub 2
USA Saves: Alex Wolf 12
Turkey Goals: Alican Cagatay 3, Can Gozulsulu 2, Berk Biyik, Nesfet togkan Ozbek, Ali can Yilmaz
Turkey Saves: Emirhan Ozdemir 3, Berk Gezek 1