U.S. Nationals Lose two

Grimaldi Ties it Late, Phantoms Score with 50 Seconds Left in OT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – J.T. Miller (East Palestine, Ohio/2-1--3), Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif./ 1-2--3) and Robbie Russo (Westmont, Ill./0-3--3) notched three points each, but Brian Dowd's goal with just 50 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Youngstown Phantoms a 6-5 decision over the U.S. National Under-17 Team here tonight.

Just 2:56 into the game, Miller took a feed from Dan Carlson (Corcoran, Minn.), streaked down the left wing and snapped a shot over netminder Matt Mahalak's glove to give the U.S. an early 1-0 advantage. Miller doubled the U.S. advantage with a power-play goal at 10:10 after he one-timed a feed from Russo from the top of the right faceoff circle past Mahalak. Ben Paulides cut Youngstown's deficit in half with a shorthanded goal 2:45 later when his snap shot slipped under John Gibson (Pittsburgh, Pa.).

The second stanza proved to be a wild one with six total goals scored between the two squads. Team USA jumped out to a 3-1 lead just 1:10 into the period when Michael Paliotta (Westport, Conn.) slid the puck to Blake Pietila (Brighton, Mich.), who tipped it past Mahalak from point-blank range for a power-play goal. Just 36 seconds later, Cody Strang chipped a shot over Gibson from the left side for a shorthanded goal to bring Youngstown within a goal. The Phantoms tied the score when Jefferson Dahl snapped a shot over Gibson's blocker at 3:56. Luke Eibler made it 4-3 for Youngstown after he skated around the defense and popped a backhander into the top of the net at 7:17. With 5:00 left to play in the period, Grimaldi broke in two-on-one and fed Reid Boucher (Grand Ledge, Mich.) who sent Mahalak's water bottle skyward with a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle to make it 4-4. Just 2:48 later, Andrew Lamont tallied an unassisted goal which allowed the Phantoms to head into the locker room ahead, 5-4, after 40 minutes of play.

With just 4:12 remaining in regulation, Grimaldi unleashed a slap shot from the left half wall over Mahalak's right shoulder to knot the score with a power-play marker. Neither team found the go-ahead goal before time expired, sending the game to overtime. Matt McNeely (Burnsville, Minn.), who came on in relief of Gibson before the third period, stopped all four shots he saw in the frame.

Team USA put four shots on Mahalak during extra time, but couldn't find the game winner. As time ticked down, Dowd tipped Cody Strang's pass into the back of the net to give the Phantoms the 6-5 win.

Gibson (17) and McNeely (7) combined for 24 saves on the night.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team will close out the weekend series against the Phantoms Saturday at 4:05 p.m. EST at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

NOTES: Rocco Grimaldi's three points give him a team-high 14 (6-8) this season ... Robbie Russo three assists tonight give him nine on the campaign, which paces Team USA. His 10 points (1-9) are tops among the U.S. defensive corps ... The U.S. out shot the Phantoms by a 38-30 margin ... Team USA earned its 13th point in USHL play with the overtime loss.


U.S. National Under-18 Team Downed at Union College, 4-1
Fallon Scores for U.S., Campbell Makes 23 Stops

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Jacob Fallon (Southlake, Texas) notched his first goal of the season, but it was not enough, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team fell to Union College, 4-1, here tonight at Frank L. Messa Rink.

The Dutchmen jumped out to a 1-0 lead after Luke Cain put the puck past Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich.) on a deflection just 2:23 into the opening stanza. Jason Walters doubled the advantage with a power-play marker at 10:10.

Fallon cut the deficit in half after his shot beat netminder Corey Milan with just six seconds remaining in the second stanza. Adam Clendening (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) and Jon Merrill (Brighton, Mich.) notched assists on the play.

Union made it 3-1 when Mario Valery-Trabucco scored 5:34 into the final frame. Kelly Zajac poked home his own rebound at 11:24 to account for the 4-1 final.

Campbell made 23 saves on the night.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team is back in action Saturday against NCAA Division III opponent Williams College at 7 p.m. EST.

NOTES: Jon Merrill recorded his team-best 13th assist tonight. With the helper, Merrill pocketed his 17th point on the season, which ties him with Justin Faulk (South St. Paul, Minn./11-6--17) for the highest point total among Team USA's defensemen ... Jacob Fallon notched his first goal in just his third game back since missing the first 24 games of the year ... Four members of the U.S. National Under-18 Team including Jack Campbell, Merrill, Faulk and Jason Zucker (Las Vegas, Nev.) have all been selected to the preliminary roster for the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Regina and Saskatoon, Sask., Dec. 26, 2009 - Jan. 5, 2010. The four players will take part in the preliminary camp in Grand Forks, N.D., Dec. 17-19.