USA Junior Men Upend Hungary 18-16 To Reach U20 World Championship Gold Medal Match

Hungary began the game with two quick goals from Csongor Lugosi and the captain Oliver Leinweber before Bode Brinkema floated in Team USA's first score. Martin Toth pushed the lead back to two and then Benjamin Liechty cut the deficit right back to one. From there, Leinweber and Adam Peocz scored for Hungary but Castillo and William Schneider answered to close the quarter for the United States trailing 5-4. In the second period, the Hungarian side opened with three goals from Botond Balogh, Vince Varga, and Leinweber before Gavin Appledorn found the back of the net for the Americans. Zsombor Porge tacked on one more but Akerstrom (2) and Dodd quickly brought Team USA within one. Mor Benedek and Akerstrom traded scores to close the half with Hungary holding a 10-9 lead.

Brinkema won the opening sprint to start the second half which allowed Liechty to find Castillo for a game-tying goal. One minute later, Dodd rang the register from six meters to give Team USA its first lead of the day. Varga would have an answer for Hungary and then the captains would weigh in. Dodd converted a penalty shot to regain the lead before Leinweber hit from six meters twice in the final few minutes to give the Hungarians a 13-12 edge after three. The United States would step up its game in the final frame to close things out. Dodd (2), Castillo, and Ryan Ohl came out firing to put the Americans ahead by three before Hungary could respond. They would turn to their captain Leinweber for another pair of goals to cut the deficit down to one with 2:38 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Liechty found Brinkema for a beautiful cross cage goal from long distance. Hungary would bring the ball up the pool needing a score and they earned an exclusion but Marton Zeman was denied by Charles Mills who quickly flipped the ball out of harm's way to Castillo. Castillo found Dodd with no Hungarian goalkeeper to beat and Dodd skipped home the dagger from half tank. Varga would score a meaningless goal late for Hungary to set the final score at 18-16 for Team USA.

Team USA went 6/16 on power plays and 3/3 on penalties in regulation while Hungary went 4/7 on power plays and 4/4 on penalties. 

Scoring
USA 18 (4, 5, 3, 6) R. Dodd 6, L. Akerstrom 3, P. Castillo 3, B. Brinkema 2, G. Appledorn 1, B. Liecthy 1, R. Ohl 1, W. Schneider 1
HUN 16 (5, 5, 3, 3) O. Leinweber 7, V. Varga 3, B. Balogh 1, M. Benedek 1, C. Lugosi 1, A. Peocz 1, Z. Porge 1, M. Toth 1
Saves - USA - C. Mills 4 - HUN - G. Szabo 4, D. Szitas 3