RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — John Speraw ran along the sideline about as close as he could to actually being in the action. He was cheering Aaron Russell to make a save while crashing into the barrier some 20 feet behind the end line.
"I was willing him to get that ball," the U.S. coach said. "I'm into it. It's the Olympic Games."
Russell didn't quite get there. Moments later, Micah Christenson pulled off a nearly identical play and kept the point going.
It has taken that kind of hustle — not to mention the heart-to-heart talks — for the semifinals-bound U.