Sometimes, despite all odds, an underdog triumphs over adversity to provide its fans with a miracle.

On Friday at the World University Games, the United States' hockey team was that underdog.

Team USA upset Slovakia, a squad that medaled in each of the last two World University Games, by a score of 2-1 -- despite getting outshot 42-19.

"As soon as the buzzer rang, I had chills running through me," said Joe Maglaque, Team USA's co-captain and a Penn State defenseman. "It was an emotion I never felt before. I can't even explain it; it was amazing."

One of the main reasons Team USA was able to pull off the low-scoring victory was goaltending.

Lindenwood's Mike Turnipseed was nearly perfect between the pipes as he stopped 41 pucks and allowed just one goal. The upset marked Team USA's first win since the 2001 Games.

"I was just in the zone that day," Turnipseed said. "I've had some good games in my career, but nothing beats going against and beating Slovakia."

For USA, the win was in stark contrast from its earlier 8-1 loss to Austria.

According to Kevin Jaeger, one of three Penn State skaters representing Team USA, the squad was actually a little intimidated by the competition.

"The first game we stepped on the ice with those guys, they were just enormous," he said. "I was just sitting here shaking.

"After the first period, though, it wasn't that bad. The biggest thing that hurt was that everybody was nervous and afraid."

Jaeger said the team "had no idea what it was coming into" but says the USA has picked up a lot of confidence since then.

The drama wasn't lost on Jaeger, either. He recorded the second -- and eventual game-winning -- goal of the game.

"I think my life flashed before my eyes before I shot it because I was so nervous {about] missing a wide open net," he said. "So when the puck hit my stick, I was just concentrating real hard.

"Once I did it, I was pretty relieved."

Jaeger found the top corner after a pass from Illinois' Brett Duncan found him wide open on the left wing's faceoff dot.

Team USA was unable to overcome a tough Italy team on Saturday, though. USA fell 4-0 after allowing two power play goals in the first period. Oddly enough, Slovakia shut out Italy yesterday, 2-0.

Still, with one win, Team USA remains mathematically alive in the hunt for a medal.

"We've all agreed that we're just taking it one game at a time," USA head coach Chad Cassel said. "After we beat Finland [today] and if we're able to beat Korea, then we'll worry about all that."

USA (1-2) is slated to take on Finland (2-1) at 10 a.m. EST today and Korea (0-3) at 10 a.m. EST tomorrow.

Finland's only loss came to Slovakia, 4-0, in its opening game.

"The key for tomorrow mainly is to go out and play our game," Maglaque said. "The style of European hockey is not very physical. When we first came out and came out hitting, it seems to me that they're intimidated to play us."

Jaeger agreed.

"A lot of these teams are real fast, but they don't hit," he said. "They're not used to being hit either."

Team USA is even favored to beat struggling Korea. In three games, Korea has been outscored 29-4.

But the USA is going to have to concentrate on Finland first.

The Fins' goaltender, Ville Salminen, is allowing less than one goal per game and currently boasts a 96.08 save percentage.

"Finland's going to be a really good team," USA goalie Turnipseed said. "They upset the home Austria team ... so we all gotta come out strong."