BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Former Indiana University star Shae Fournier (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Grant Park) shot zero-for-eight and contributed an assist along with a field block in 31:12 of playing time, while current Hoosier Kelly Matthews (Sr., Roxboro, Quebec, Canada/St. Thomas) shot zero-for-one in 8:55 as Canada could not overcome the United States of America, 13-7, in the quarterfinals of the 29th Summer Universiade/University Games in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan).
The defeat eliminates Canada’s hopes of earning a Top Four finish at the tournament as the Canadians will next be in action at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, August 28, against Italy in a Fifth/Eighth Place game. Italy fell in another quarterfinal clash by a 17-15 count to Japan.
A victory against Italy will advance Canada into the Fifth Place game versus either Australia or France, while a loss will place the team into the Seventh Place game.
The lack of goals for Fournier and Matthews snaps a string of multi-game contests for the duo. Fournier racked up four goals, three assists, four steals and a field block, with Matthews tacking on three goals and an assist as Canada upended the United Kingdom/Great Britain, 24-5, on Friday, August 25. Further, Fournier collected a pair of markers with a steal and a field block, while Matthews notched a solo strike with a steal as Canada slipped against Japan, 12-11, on Thursday, August 24. Against Hungary on Tuesday, August 22, Fournier scored twice with a steal and Matthews chipped in single marker in an 8-5 victory.
Fournier, who posted a hat-trick in a 15-4 defeat of New Zealand to open the tournament on Friday, August 18, prior to notching another three goal output in a 17-11 loss to the Russian Federation on Sunday, August 20, now has 14 goals, five assists, seven steals and three field blocks at the tournament, while Matthews, who notched a single goal against Hungary to go along with a goal and a field block versus New Zealand, has six goals, an assist, a steal and a field block. Matthews did not post a statistic against the Russian Federation.
Canada led only once against the United States by going in front 1-0 with 6:52 remaining in the first quarter. From there, the United States reeled off a four-goal outburst over the remainder of the frame to go ahead 4-1. Team USA continued to pull away by outscoring Canada 3-1 in the second quarter to enter halftime with a 7-2 lead. From there, the teams exchanged scores for a 3-3 output in the third quarter prior to the United States putting the finishing touches on the victory with a 3-2 advantage on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.
