BULLETIN: Feb. 11, 2023 — Eight minutes from glory

The U.S. males’s indoor subject hockey crew, in opposition to all odds and in opposition to all logic, was taking part in as we speak for a spot within the championship ultimate of the 2023 FIH males’s Indoor World Cup in Pretoria, South Africa. And in opposition to even larger odds, as we speak’s semifinal opponent was the Netherlands, a real hockey nation the place the lads’s and ladies’s video games are equally valued, there are 500 registered subject hockey pitches, and the place 320 golf equipment take part frequently.

Regardless of the entire variations, the U.S. was tied 3-3 with the Oranje heading into the ultimate eight minutes of play.

However a tough sort out within the circle led to a Holland penalty stroke, which was the primary of 4 straight objectives that led to a 7-3 win for the favored Dutch facet.

The U.S. may have an opportunity at a bronze medal later as we speak in opposition to Iran, which misplaced to world No. 1 Austria in its semifinal recreation. The third-place recreation, which is able to happen later as we speak, is a rematch of a pool play recreation which Iran prevailed 8-3. It had been the lone loss the States had earlier than as we speak’s semifinal.

No matter end result the U.S. will get as we speak is assured to be the perfect displaying ever in an Indoor World Cup and the perfect in a world-level competitors because the American males’s outside facet completed third on the Los Angeles Olympics 91 years in the past.

Full marks need to go to the U.S. gamers and the teaching workers, led by Towson assistant coach Jason Mulder, who has in some way coaxed high effort from a combined bag of amateurs and turned it right into a crew.