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On This Day: U.S. men's hockey wins in 'Miracle on Ice'

On Feb. 22, 1980, in one of the most dramatic upsets in Olympics history, the underdog U.S. hockey team, made up of collegians and second-tier professional players, defeated the defending champion Soviet team, regarded as the world's finest, 4-3, at the Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Captain Mike Eruzione of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team celebrates with his teammates after lighting the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City on February 8, 2002. On February 22, 1980, in one of the most dramatic upsets in Olympics history, the underdog U.S. hockey team, made up of collegians and second-tier professional players, defeated the defending champion Soviet team, regarded as the world's finest, 4-3, at the Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y. File Photo by H. Ruckemann/UPI
1 of 4 | Captain Mike Eruzione of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team celebrates with his teammates after lighting the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City on February 8, 2002. On February 22, 1980, in one of the most dramatic upsets in Olympics history, the underdog U.S. hockey team, made up of collegians and second-tier professional players, defeated the defending champion Soviet team, regarded as the world's finest, 4-3, at the Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y. File Photo by H. Ruckemann/UPI | License Photo

Feb. 22 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1819, a treaty with Spain ceded Florida to the United States.

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In 1855, Pennsylvania State University was founded in State College, Pa. It was originally called the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania.

In 1862, Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as president of the Confederate States of America.

In 1879, Woolworth, the first chain store, opened in Utica, N.Y.

In 1959, the Daytona 500 was run for the first time. Lee Petty won the race.

In 1973, Israeli fighter planes shot down a Libyan commercial airliner, killing 108 of the 113 people aboard. The military apparently believed the airliner was a security threat in Israeli-controlled airspace. Israel's defense minister later said there was an "error in judgment" by the military. Israel paid reparations to the families of the victims.

In 1980, in one of the most dramatic upsets in Olympics history, the underdog U.S. hockey team, made up of collegians and second-tier professional players, defeated the defending champion Soviet team, regarded as the world's finest, 4-3, at the Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y.

In 1987, artist Andy Warhol died of heart failure at age 58.

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File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

In 1998, a series of tornadoes raked central Florida, killing 42 people and injuring more than 200 others.

In 2005, a powerful earthquake struck Iran, killing more than 500 people.

In 2006, robbers took more than $43 million in cash from the Securitas bank depot in Kent, England, Britain's largest ever theft.

In 2011, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake severely damaged Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, killing 185 people and injuring up to 2,000.

In 2012, a commuter train plowed into a barrier at a Buenos Aires station, killing 49 people and injuring hundreds more.

In 2014, Ukraine's Parliament ousted President Viktor Yanukovych following a period of violence that killed scores of people.

File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

In 2018, the U.S. women's ice hockey team won the Olympic gold medal for the first time in 20 years with a 4-3 victory over Canada in the Pyeongchang, South Korea, Games.

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In 2019, billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was charged with two counts of soliciting a prostitute in Florida as part of a larger human-trafficking bust.

Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

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