A Rally to Tie Australia Is a Case of Good News, Bad News for U.S.

A 7-7 tie against Australia on the first day of pool play in the UPS International Cup opener Tuesday was not what the United States team desired, but it was in no position to complain.

Australia was smothering through three periods, leading, 7-4, while U.S. players missed. A three-goal rally produced a tie in front of 1,200 at the Los Alamitos Army Reserve Center.

Yugoslavia defeated Italy, 14-8, and Croatia defeated the United States B team, 7-3, in other matches.

“We had two really good quarters and two quarters where we had individual errors that cost us goals,” U.S. Coach John Vargas said.

The U.S. has won only one Olympic gold medal in the sport and that came in 1904, when every team in the competition was from the U.S.

There have been hopes and promises since but no first-place finish.

So what was so bad about a tie against Australia, considered one of the top teams in the world? Maybe nothing.

The U.S. is still assembling its team. Gavin Arroyo and Kyle Kopp arrived Monday from Europe, where they play professionally. Chris Humbert arrived from Greece Tuesday morning and did not suit up.

So to salvage a tie wasn’t so bad.

“We still need a little more time,” Vargas said. “We’re still putting the pieces together.”

Which makes this tournament a good barometer.

“Everyone in this tournament is a top team,” Vargas said. “This will let us know if we’re on the right track.”

There wasn’t an immediate answer to that Tuesday, although the U.S. was brilliant in the fourth quarter, shutting down Australia.

Wolf Wigo, Chi Kredell and Robert Lynn each scored a goal, with Lynn’s tying the score with 3:25 left. Both teams survived threats in the final two minutes, the closest chance on a lob shot by Australia’s Craig Miller that glanced off the post.

“We showed our speed big time in the last quarter,” Vargas said. “But if your not ready to play every quarter against this competition, you’re going to lose.”

Or tie.