USA Men's Olympic Hockey Team Eliminated By Slovakia

GREENWICH, CT — The Olympic dream is over for the USA men's hockey team.

It appeared as if Team USA was going to win their quarterfinal matchup with Slovakia on Wednesday and move on to the semifinals with a chance to win a medal, but a late goal from Slovakia forced a shootout, and the Americans eventually lost 3-2.

Team USA took a 2-1 lead midway through the second period on a goal from Sam Hentges, and held it deep into the third. But Slovakia's Marek Hrivik scored with 44 seconds left in regulation to force a shootout.

Three players each from Team USA and Slovakia missed to begin the shootout, but on the fourth shot, Slovakia's Peter Cehlarik was able to slip the puck by Greenwich native and goalie, Strauss Mann. The US could not match the goal on their final chance.

Mann, who appeared in his first Olympics, saved 34 of the 36 shots against him in regulation.

The U.S. men's hockey team was mostly unknown heading into the Olympics. Because the NHL didn't send its players for the second straight Winter Games, the roster was comprised of college players and former pros.

Team USA hasn't won gold since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" in Lake Placid. The last time the men's team won a medal was in Vancouver in 2010 when they took home silver.