CAPE TOWN, South Africa – It was a full 40-minute battle between the No. 15 U.S. Men’s National Indoor Team and higher ranked No. 8 Namibia in the first game of the men’s 2025 Nkosi Cup in Cape Town, South Africa. The contest was intense, with the final minutes seeing the scoreline shift with six goals scored, but it was Namibia who came out on top, 6-5.
USA found themselves trailing early when Namibia scored in the second minute of play. It was the only goal of the first frame, as the Wolves defense locked in for the remainder of the period.
Although Namibia extended their lead off a penalty corner in the second quarter, USA made it 2-1 at halftime when Pat Harris set Alex Beauduin up for a diving goal.
Out of the break, the Wolves evened the contest when Alberto Montilla fired a shot in toward the near post. Namibia regained the lead in the 27th minute to make it 3-2.
The final quarter was action packed, with six goals scored and the scoreline changing multiple times. After Namibia had a goal disallowed, USA capitalized when Alberto Montilla scored off a penalty stroke to make it 3-3. The 35th minute alone saw three goals scored. First, Pat Harris converted off a penalty corner to give USA their first lead at 4-3. That was short lived as Namibia tallied a field goal and moments later finished a penalty stroke.
Namibia extended their goal margin to two in the 38th minute off a penalty corner. USA didn’t let up and as the clock ticked down, and in the final minute, Alberto Montilla recorded his hat trick. Namibia held on to win 6-5.