It took some time, but Team USA finally figured out Slovakia in the World University Games. Slovakia jumped out quick, putting up 2 goals in the first 10 minutes of the game. West Chester's Jim Gehring would put USA on the board in the first, only to see Slovakia to score with 30 seconds left in the first. USA would get the only goal of the second period thanks to another Jim Gehring power play goal, reducing the deficit to one goal heading into the 3rd.

Four minutes into the 3rd, the Icers' own Jaime Zimmel tied the game up at 3. But with 10 minutes left, Slovakia found the net again, taking the lead once again. But this USA team has yet to quit. Once again, Jaime ZImmel would bring about the tie, this time as the lone assist on Navy's Matt Sweezey's game-tying goal with just under 6 minutes left. The rest of the third period found no victor, nor did the 5-minute overtime period. So, to the shoot-out they went.

Even in the shoot-out, neither team could find a way to win. The first 5 shooters aside could not decided, nor could the next 7. As the 13th round came around, the banner day for the Icers' representatives came to an end. This time, it was Luke DeLorenzo getting the game-winning goal in the 13th round of the shoot-out, and giving Team USA a 2-0 start to the opening rounds of play.

This also puts USA in a great position to move to the playoff rounds. Getting the advantage over Slovakia is huge for the rest of the games, though it may not ultimately matter. Russia and USA are atop the standings at 2-0. Slovakia now stands at 2-0-1, and Japan and Korea are at the bottom at 0-2 and 0-3 respectively. The remaining games are:

USA v Russia
USA v Japan
Russia v Slovakia
Korea v Japan

If things go as I expect, USA will likely lose to Russia and beat Japan; Russia downs Slovakia; and pick'em in the Korea/Japan game. Ultimately, Russia would sweep 4-0, USA would finish second at 3-1, and the Slovaks would end 3rd at 2-1-1. Getting to the playoffs would be another positive step forward for the ACHA.