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BRADENTON, Fla. -- Maryland senior Connor Kelly made the last of his six shot attempts count in today’s Team USA Spring Premiere, scoring the clinching goal with 1:53 remaining in overtime to help the White team defeat the Blue team, 9-7, at windswept IMG Academy Field here.

Matt Abbott added an empty net goal with 48 seconds to play for the White, which scored nine of the game’s final 12 goals after falling behind, 4-0. Brian Phipps kept the Blue team at bay in the second half and overtime, surrendering just three goals and making 10 saves for the White team.

The US Lacrosse-hosted exhibition represented the last evaluation opportunity for nearly 50 players vying for a spot on the 23-man U.S. team that will compete in the Federation of International Lacrosse World Championship July 12-21 in Israel. The Blue-White Game followed two practices, as Team USA coach John Danowski and his staff prepare to announce the travel roster Sunday after morning meetings.

“Whoever we pick is going to be terrific,” Danowski said. “It's just about picking the right guys and getting them in the right mindset.”

Blue jumped ahead early, using two goals from John Haus to key a 4-0 first-quarter run. White responded in the second, as four players scored to forge a 4-4 halftime tie. Matt Kavanagh had a goal and an assist for White in the first half, and he added two assists in the third quarter, on goals from Connor Buczek and Mike Chanenchuk, as White took control, 6-4.

Blue countered in a relative fury around the third-period expiration. Paul Rabil fed Ryan Brown with 1:02 left in the frame, and a Myles Jones rocket 1:14 into the fourth quarter tied the game at 6. Dylan Molloy restored White’s lead with about 15 minutes to play, but Rob Pannell’s second of the game again brought Blue even with 12:59 remaining.

Neither team scored for the next 19-plus minutes, as the first four-minute overtime ended without a winner. Finally, Kelly created enough space to shoot and snuck the clincher past John Galloway. White regained possession, and a double-team stripped Will Haus of the ball. But Abbott was in the right spot to scoop the ground ball and drive without challenge down the middle for the easy insurance goal.

The U.S. men’s national team trains and plays using best-in class products provided by Nike (apparel and footwear), Cascade (helmets), STX (equipment), Warrior (equipment), SISU Guard (mouthguards) and The Pearl by Guardian (balls). In addition to these partners, MedStar Sports Medicine, Greenfields, Nationwide, Sports Force Parks and Sweat X are official sponsors of the national team. Team training is also aided by products from DJO Global, Motive Pure, NormaTec Recovery and Athletic Republic. For more information on the U.S. men’s national team, visit teamusa.uslacrosse.org. Follow the team on social media @uslacrosse and use #USAMLAX on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and and YouTube.