CANADA CAN’T COMPLETE SWEEP IN LOSS TO U.S.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A two-game sweep just wasn’t to be for Canada’s National Sledge Team on Saturday afternoon as it was blanked 3-0 by the United States, settling for a split of the two-game weekend series at the ESL Centre.

Canada took the first game of the series on Friday night, earning a 2-1 shootout win.

American goaltender Steve Cash was the story on Saturday, turning aside all 12 shots he faced to become the first netminder to shut out Canada in the 2009-10 season and help the U.S. to even the series.

Canada lost despite holding a 12-10 advantage in shots on goal, including 11-6 over the first two periods.

Brad Emmerson got the momentum going for the United States early in the first, putting one up on the board just shy of the six-minute mark before Bubba Torres doubled the lead less than six minutes later.

Taylor Lipsett gave the Americans even more insurance with a goal 5:01 into the second, pushing the lead to 3-0 and chasing Canadian netminder Paul Rosen (Thornhill, Ont.) from the goal. Rosen, who allowed three goals on five shots, was replaced by Corbin Watson (Kingsville, Ont.), who stopped everything he faced the rest of the way.

The U.S. win evens the season series between the North American rivals at two wins apiece – the two also split a two-game series in Toronto, Ont., in late September. They’ll face off next at the 2009 World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown, P.E.I., which kicks off Nov. 17.