SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill.) scored twice and Joseph Woll (St. Louis, Mo.) stopped 22 of 23 shots as the U.S. National Under-18 Team defeated the Sioux Falls Stampede, 3-1, here tonight at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. With the victory the U18s record against United States Hockey League opponents improved to 10-3-0 (W-L-OTL) on the season.

The Stampede notched the game's first goal at the 14:47 mark of the opening period off a rebound. Team USA fired eight shots on goal and went 0-2 on the power play before drawing a cross-checking call with 20 seconds remaining, setting up the man advantage for the U.S. to open the second.

Sioux Falls successfully killed off the USA power play out of the gate in the middle frame, but the equalizer came minutes later when Keller walked the puck into the slot and wristed a shot into the back of the net. Adam Fox (Jericho, N.Y.) assisted on the play. Team USA took the lead off a James Sanchez (Northbrook, Ill.) power-play marker at 17:20. Ryan Lindgren (Minneapolis, Minn.) started the play and found Trent Frederic (St. Louis, Mo.) to the right of the cage. The puck bounced from Frederic right out front to Sanchez for the tap in.

Woll kicked aside the only three shots he faced in the final frame and Keller added a late, empty-net goal to ice the win for the U18s, 3-1. Nick Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.) earned the lone assist on the empty netter.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team next travel to Grand Forks, North Dakota to face the University of North Dakota tomorrow (Jan. 9) at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET and can be seen live at NCHC.tv.