Nice, France – The USA Men's National Team lost to Italy in the French Open. The French Open starts the 2000 international competitive season, which will conclude with the Sydney Olympic Games, September 15 through October 1.<\/p>\n
The USA held a 4-2 lead with 1:22 left in the second quarter on two goals by Chris Humbert (Lodi, CA) and scores by Chris Oeding (Newport Beach, CA) and Brad Schumacher (Bowie, MD) before Italy scored five straight goals to take a 7 – 4 lead. Ryan Bailey (Long Beach, CA) scored with :02 seconds remaining
\nin the third to close the gap to 7-5. <\/p>\n
The USA's Wolf Wigo (New York, NY) brought the USA to within one on a penalty
\nshot with 5:40 left in the game, but that was the closest the USA would get.<\/p>\n
"We had five power play opportunities in the fourth quarter and came up
\nempty," said coach John Vargas. <\/p>\n
Wigo's penalty shot came after an unusual series of events that left the
\nofficials and crowd on hand shaking their heads and praising the quick
\nthinking of Italian coach Ratko Rudic. At 6:02 of the fourth quarter,
\nSottani of Italy was excluded and Coach Vargas called time out. At 5:40,
\nGerini was assessed a penalty shot and was subsequently excluded for
\ndisrespect. Meanwhile, Sottani, who was apparently watching the action in
\nfront of the cage and did not realize his penalty had expired remained in the
\npenalty area. Ratko Rudic, the Italian coach immediately recognized an
\nopportunity and substituted Tempesti, his second goalkeeper, for Sottani.
\nAlthough Wigo's shot scored, the situation of having one red cap in the goal
\nand another one in the penalty area was something many long-time observers of
\nthe sport had never seen before. <\/p>\n
The USA star Tony Azevedo (Long Beach, CA) was suffering from an intestinal
\nflu and did not suit up for tonight's game. He is expected to return to the
\nline-up for tomorrow's game against Kazakstan. The USA needs a win over
\nKazakhstan to advance to the semi-finals on Saturday.<\/p>\n
RESULTS<\/p>\n
1 2 3 4 F
\nUSA 1 3 1 1 6
\nITA 0 3 4 1 8<\/p>\n
Goals:
\nITA: Calceterra 2, Postiglione, Bencevenga, Lisi, Angelini, Sottani, Silipo
\nUSA: Humbert 2, Bailey, Oeding, Schumacher, Wigo (P)
\nSaves: USA Hackett 7; ITA Tempesti 6, Gerini 1
\nPowerplay: USA 3\/10, ITA 4\/7
\nOther Games: Ger 9 Kaz 7; Aus 6 Rus 10 ; Fr 7, Can5
\nBracket Play: "A" Italy, Germany, USA, Kasakhstan; "B" Russia, Canada,
\nAustralia, France<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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