From www.uswp.org – PERTH, AUSTRALIA – In the game for seventh place at the World Championships, the United States defeated Greece 8-4 at Challenge Stadium.
The US got out to a 2-0 lead after one quarter of play as Chris Humbert whipped in a backhander and Gavin Arroyo added an extra-man goal.
Greece fought back to tie the score at 2-2 behind goals by Georgios Mavrotas and Ioannis Thomakos. Humbert scored again to put the US up 3-2 at the end of two quarters.
Greece stepped up its defensive effort in the third period, holding the United States scoreless. Greece got goals from Georgios Afroudakis and Demetrios Mazis to claim the lead heading into the final period of play.
An outside shot by Wolf Wigo tied the score 4-4 at 6:15 of the fourth quarter. At 5:29, Arroyo rebounded a Humbert miss and put the US ahead, 5-4. As the action was taking place in front of the net, Greece’s Mazis landed a blow to the face of Wigo in the backcourt. The referee ejected Mazis for brutality and the United States played 6-on-5 for more than five minutes to finish the game. The team took full advantage, as Humbert, Chris Oeding and Brad Schumacher all hit the net as the US outscored Greece 5-0 in the quarter for an 8-4 win.