USA strives for strong finish at World University Games tourney

"I think we're a pretty significant underdog in this game," USA coach Chad Cassel said.

Playing the role of spoiler certainly won't put the U.S. out of character, though.

Team USA upset Slovakia, 2003's silver medalist, by a score of 2-1 last week after goalie Mark Turnipseed collected 41 saves.

According to Cassel, Turnipseed's going to have to turn in a similar performance if the U.S. wants to come away victorious.

"He's going to get tested," Cassel said. "[Turnipseed] will definitely see a lot of shots."

And judging by Ukraine's past performance, it looks like Cassel has good reason to believe that. Ukraine managed to record 99 shots in its last two games against China and Japan, two of the weaker round robin Group B teams.

Still, Team USA is going to have its hands full with a squad that lost three games by a total of three goals.

"Like us, Ukraine has a lot of one-goal losses," Cassel said. "They could be playing in a medal round right now."

Technically, if the U.S. was able to hold on for a win against Finland -- it could be, too.

Cassel was adamant that his team wouldn't change its game plan. He believed the U.S. "lost a very winnable game to Finland," and it just didn't perform well against Korea.

Cassel felt Ukraine's game plan would also stay the same.

"Well, quite honestly, not a whole lot of teams around here worry about us," he said.

While Cassel dismissed any notion that Ukraine had a prevalent weakness, it appears Team USA has an advantage in at least one area.

Statistically, Lindenwood's Turnipseed (92.37) has a higher save percentage than Ukraine goalie Yevgeniy Galyuk (90.98).

Turnipseed, the oldest player on Team USA, will also celebrated his 26th birthday today in Austria.

Whether or not he also celebrates another upset victory is anybody's guess.