GAME 1: USA 13 d AUSTRALIA 12
The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks have fallen to the USA in a nail biting 12-13 loss in their opening fixture of the US three-game Exhibition Series at Mt. San Antonio college, CA on Sunday afternoon.
The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks shot out of the blocks firing, with captain Nathan Power opening the scoring for the visitors. The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks building on their positive start to end the first quarter leading the USA 4-1.
The home side wrestled their way back into the contest in the second quarter, but the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks kept their composure to hold a 7-5 lead at half time.
The tide changed after the break when USA scored 5 unaswered goals to take a 10-7 lead to end the third quarter. A strong showing by the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks in the final quarter set up a grandstand finish, after Luka Krstic scored an equiliser to draw the game 12-all with only moments remaining. Though it was a goal in the dying seconds from Team USA which would prove the difference in a see-sawing encounter. The home side claiming a 13-12 victory in Game 1 of the Exhibition Series.
For Full Match Summary and Stats – click here.
The team will now prepare for their second match of the Exhibition Series against the USA on Wednesday, June 11 at JSerra Catholic High School, CA.
Australia: Nic Porter, Angus Lambie, Luka Krstic, Sam Nangle, Nathan Power, Nicolas Bicari, Drew McJannett, Jacob Mercep, Matth Byrnes, Marcus Berehulak, Tim Putt, Andrej Grgurevic, Laurence Barker, Tristan Glanznig, Loui Schuler
GAME 2: AUSTRALIA 13 d USA 12
The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks have levelled the series with a narrow 13-12 win against USA in another close contest at JSerra Catholic High School, CA.
Marcus Berehulak got the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks on the scoreboard first, before adding two more goals to complete a first quarter hat-trick, heading into the second quarter with a healthy 3-1 lead.
USA mounted a mini-comeback when Hannes Daube scored from the penalty spot to cut the lead down by 1. Though the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks would always have an immediate response to a USA goal for the full duration of the quarter, heading into the halftime break 7-6 against USA.
Paris Olympians Milos Maksimovic and Luke Pavillard continued the scoring for the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks in the third quarter to increase the lead to 9-6. However, the home side would again continue a fight back with goals to Hannes Daube and Marko Vavic, the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks holding a narrow 12-11 lead heading into the final quarter.
The match came down to the wire, as it did in the first game – Luke Pavillard scoring midway through the quarter to increase Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks’ lead to 13-11. But once again, USA fought back with Vavic giving his side an opportunity to steal the match with a goal in the dying stages. Though time would expire on the game clock, as the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks claimed the second game of the Exhibition Series with a 13-12 victory to set up an exciting contest for Game 3.
The team will now prepare for a mouthwater decider this Saturday, June 14 (12:00PM AEST) at Chapman University, CA.
For Full Match Summary and Stats – click here.
Australia: Nic Porter, Sam Nagle, Milos Maksimovic, Charlie Negus, Nathan Power, Matt Wilson, Luke Pavillard, Jacob Mercep, Matt Byrnes, Marcus Berehulak, Tim Putt, Andrej Grgurevic, Laurence Barker, Drew McJannett
GAME 3: AUSTRALIA 14 d USA 11
The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks have defeated the USA 14-11 in the decider to claim the 3-game Exhibition series at Chapman University, CA.
Olympian Marcus Berehulak got the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks off to the perfect start to get his side on the scoreboard first. As has been all series, both sides would counter in response, this time USA’s Chase Dodd leveling the scores at 1-1 midway through the first quarter. Berehulak would later grab his second, as both teams refused to give an inch, the first quarter ending with scores locked at 3-3.
Both sides continued to trade goals in the second quarter. With scores level at 5-all with only minutes remaining, the USA would score two goals in quick success through Hannes Daube and Nicolas Saveljic to give the Americans a 7-5 lead at halftime.
The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks made a splash to start the second term when Luke Pavillard scored twice to erase the defecit and draw level with USA 7-7. Both teams scrambling towards the fourth quarter with scores level 9-9 with a quarter remaining.
The series decider came down to the final quarter, both sides again trading goals. With the scores levelled at 11-all for a good portion of the final term, it would be two-time Olympian Nathan Power who would strike for the visitors to give the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks a 12-11 lead with only moments remaining. Olympians Matthew Byrnes and Maksimovic adding the extras before the whistle to seal a memorable 14-11 win in the decider.
For Full Match Summary and Stats – click here.
Australia: Nic Porter, Angus Lambie, Milos Maksimovic, Charlie Negus, Nathan Power, Matt Wilson, Luke Pavillard, Jacob Mercep, Matt Byrnes, Marcus Berehulak, Tim Putt, Andrej Grgurevic, Laurence Barker, Luka Krstic
