INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.) scored twice and added an assist as the U.S. National Under-18 Team fell to the Indiana Ice, 5-4, here this evening at Pan Am Pavilion. The U18s finished a three-game weekend road trip with a 2-1-0 (W-L-OTL) record.

Indiana notched the first goal of the contest just 22 seconds into the opening period. Less than two minutes later, the Ice doubled its lead over Team USA. The U.S. made an early goalie switch, but Indiana struck again at 5:32 to further increase its advantage over the Americans.

The Ice continued its offensive attack to make it a 4-0 game at 3:42 of the second stanza. Alex Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) answered for Team USA with a power-play marker at 7:56. Jack Dougherty (Cottage Grove, Minn.) fed Eichel in the right corner off a face-off win. Eichel skated toward the point and dropped a pass for Tuch who fired the puck over Jason Pawloski's glove and into the net. Indiana potted a power-play goal of its own with 2:51 remaining, but Team USA again closed the gap at 19:10. Johnathan MacLeod (Dracut, Mass.) fired a shot from the point hard along the ice that was redirected by Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.). Anders Bjork (Mequon, Wis.) also registered an assist.

Team USA made a strong push in the third period, scoring twice and limiting the Ice to three shots on net. First, Eichel netted a power-play goal from the top of the right face-off circle, rifling a wrist shot into the cage at 10:19. Brandon Fortunato (North Hills, N.Y.) and Tuch earned helpers. With only 10 seconds on the clock and the U.S. skating with an extra attacker, Eichel pulled the U.S. within one. Fortunato and Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) assisted on the play. Time expired before the U.S. was able to find the equalizer and took the loss, 5-4.

Minney and Blake Weyrick (Ojai, Calif.) combined for 19 saves in the loss for Team USA, while Pawloski turned aside 22 shots for the Ice in the victory.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team will continue training this week in advance of Saturday (March 1) night's tilt with NCAA Division I opponent Michigan State University. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing. The game will mark the final contest against college foes this season.

Team USA outshot Indiana, 26-24 ... Jack Eichel has four straight multiple-point games within the USHL. The forward has four goals and six assists in that span. He has also registered a combined +8 rating in those contests ... Anders Bjork is riding a four-game point streak within the USHL dating back to Jan. 24. The forward has three goals and two assists in that span ... Alex Tuch is on a three-game scoring streak within the USHL ... Auston Matthews scored his first goal while playing up with the U.S. National Under-18 Team ... Follow the NTDP on Twitter and like us on Facebook ... Download the Sport Ngin Mobile App for Apple iOS and Android devices and follow the U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams. Fans, parents, athletes, and coaches now have unprecedented access to scores, stats, schedules, photos, and more. The app is free and allows users to track scores and news updates from one team. Those wishing to follow more than one team can make a simple in-app purchase of $1.99. Click here to download the app.

1st Star
Indiana Ice
Jacob Pritchard (1 goal, 1 assist)

2nd Star
Indiana Ice
​Brian Pinho (2 assists)

3rd Star
Indiana Ice
​Tyler Andew (1 goal)