NUREMBERG, Germany - July 25, 2002
U.S. Edged By Germany, 5-4, In Qualification Round Of IIHF In-Line Hockey World Championships

Team USA And Slovakia To Face Off For Fifth Place

The USA Hockey InLine National Team (3-2-0) fell, 5-4, to Germany on a goal with :17 remaining in the final qualification round match-up of the 2002 International Ice Hockey Federation In-Line Hockey World Championships.
The loss eliminated the U.S. from the semifinal round for the first time in the seven-year history of the tournament. Team USA will face Slovakia on Friday, July 26 at 3:00 p.m. local time (9:00 a.m. EDT) for fifth place.

Forward Oliver David (Pacific Grove, Calif.) opened the scoring for the U.S. at 4:50 of the first quarter.   Germany answered just eight seconds later, but U.S. forward Jason Deskins (Warren, Mich.) found the back of the net for a 2-1 lead.   Germany again responded, but Team USA defenseman Ernie Hartlieb (Sterling Heights, Mich.) put his squad ahead, 3-2, to close out scoring for the first quarter.   Germany again tied up the game in the second quarter, but Deskins responded in the third to keep the U.S. on top. Germany knotted the score at four goals apiece, then picked up the game-winner late in the last stanza.

U.S. goaltender Jeff Reynaert (Sterling Heights, Mich.) helped keep Team USA in the game, denying 45 of 50 German shots on net.
In other action earlier today, Finland defeated Sweden, 8-5.   Both teams will advance out of Group E to the A-Pool semifinal round, while Germany and the Czech Republic emerged from Group F.
In the B-Pool World Championship, Great Britain, Hungary, Japan and New Zealand have advanced to the semifinals.   Semifinal and relegation games will take place on July 26, with medal games to follow on July 27.