Rio 2016: U.S. Men’s Goalball Advance to Quarterfinals in Rio

Last night, U.S. Men’s Goalball secured a spot in the quarterfinals after beating Finland, the defending Paralympic champions, 6-2. Tonight’s game against Turkey was an opportunity to sweeten their ranking position but unfortunately, Team USA came up short. Full of medal contenders, the U.S. has emerged from a difficult preliminary schedule with a 2-2 record, losing 8-7 to Lithuania and 6-3 to Turkey. The first 10 minutes were clean with only one long ball penalty from Turkey. Tyler Merren threw to the right corner, just outside the post, keeping the score 0-0. With two minutes left in the first half, Turkey scored and John Kusku answered…  Read More

Rio 2016: U.S. Women Return to the Court with a Win Against Reigning Paralympic Champions

Two days after a loss to Brazil, U.S. Women took the court against reigning Paralympic champions, Japan. With a strong start, Paralympic veterans Jen Armbruster, Asya Miller and Amanda Dennis led Team USA to a 5-3 victory against Japan today in Rio de Janeiro. Armbruster, a six-time Paralympian, put the U.S. ahead immediately with two goals in the first two minutes. Five-time Paralympian, Miller followed suit delivering another goal for Team USA before Japan scored their first goal of the game, making the score 3-1 in the first 9 minutes. Japan slid the ball past Miller and Dennis to bring the score to 3-2. But,…  Read More

Rio 2016: U.S. Men’s Goalball Comes Up Short Against Defending World Champions

Team USA faced world champions Lithuania today in Rio de Janeiro at Future Arena. Following a win against China, the men were warmed up and ready to face another team in the ‘group of death’. Lithuania has competed in the last four Paralympic Games and holds silver medals from both Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. Today, the U.S. Men stayed with Lithuania until the end, coming up short with a final score of 8-7. Joe Hamilton got Team USA on the board in the first minute, taking advantage of a long ball penalty made by Lithuania. Three-time Paralympian Tyler Merren doubled…  Read More

Rio 2016: U.S. Men’s Goalball Survives First Game in Tough Draw

U.S. Men took on China this morning in their first game of preliminary play at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The last time these two teams met was at the 2010 World Championships when China beat USA in round robin play, 7-5. Six years later, the two teams have qualified to compete on the Paralympic stage and were both drawn into the ‘group of death’. Deemed the ‘group of death’ by players and coaches, Group B is made up of six of the top teams in the world, who are all medal contenders – USA, China, Lithuania, Japan, Finland and Turkey. U.S.…  Read More