Trevor Hamilton looks to clear the puck away from the U.S. goal. Photo by Jeff Beiermann / UNO Athletics.
OMAHA, Neb. - Three different players scored and Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) made 15 saves, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team handed the University of Nebraska Omaha a 3-2 loss on Feb. 23, at the CenturyLink Center. Team USA finishes its collegiate schedule with a 11-6-4 (W-L-T) record, including a 6-6-4 mark against Division I squads.
The Mavericks opened scoring at 11:43 of the first period. Dawson Cook (Cadillac, Mich.) answered for Team USA at 14:07. The short-handed score was assisted on by J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.). Nebraska Omaha struck back at 18:50 to regain the lead over the U18s. The U.S. outshot its opponent, 16-9, in the frame.
Demko made 15 saves in the win versus Nebraska Omaha. Photo by Jeff Beiermann / UNO Athletics.
After a scoreless second stanza, Team USA mounted its comeback bid. Keaton Thompson (Devils Lake, N.D.) tied the game at 8:16 of the third period. Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.) collected the lone assist. Less than two minutes later, Evan Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich.) scored the eventual game-winning marker. Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) and Steven Santini (Mahopac, N.Y.) earned assists on the goal.
Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) made 15 saves, three in the third period, to secure the victory for Team USA. The goalie tandem of Ryan Massa and John Faulkner made 42 saves in the loss for the Mavericks.
The U.S. National Under-18 Team returns home for a 7 p.m. EST tilt with the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Friday, March 1. The U18s will then travel to Green Bay to take on the Gamblers in a Sunday (March 3) matinee matchup.
Three Stars of the Game
1st Star
U.S. National Under-18 Team
Dawson Cook, forward (1 goal)
2nd Star
Nebraska Omaha
Zahn Raubenheimer, forward (1 goal)
3rd Star
U.S. National Under-18 Team
Keaton Thompson, defense (1 goal)