SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The U.S. National Under-18 Team lost, 6-0, to Lake Superior State University in a game played Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena.

Following the loss, the U18s are now 13-6-0-2 while the Lakers improved to 4-8-3.

Anthony Nellis and Gage Torrel scored two goals each to lead the Lakers attack. Max Humitz and Bryan Basilico scored the other Lake State goals. Marek Mitens stopped all 24 U18 shots to record his first shutout of the season.

Lake Superior State outshot the U18s, 11-7, in the first period and scored twice in the first frame.

Nellis scored on a redirect in front of U18 goaltender Jonathan Mor (Highland Park, Ill.) at 1:51, set up by J.T. Henke from behind the net.  Torrel scored a shorthanded goal at 9:00 of the period to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead.  Diego Cuglietta carried the puck up the left wing into the U18s zone and centered the puck in front for Torrel, who scored on a re-direct.

Torrel scored his second of the game (third of the season) at 9:46 of the second period, taking Hampus Erikkson's pass on the right wing in the U18 zone and lifting a shot over Mor's shoulder to give Lake Superior State a 3-0 lead.

The U18s appeared to score at 16:55 of the period on a scramble at the right side of the Lakers' goal.  Tyler Weiss (Raleigh, N.C.) and Jonathan Gruden (Rochester, Mich.) had whacks at the puck in traffic.  But the goal was disallowed after video review.

Nellis scored his second of the game (seventh of the season) with 1.1 seconds left in the second period to give Lake Superior State a 4-0 lead.  Max Humitz passed the puck from the lower rim of the right circle in the U18 zone to the right post, where Nellis batted it into the goal.  The goal was allowed after video review. 

Humitz (5:48) and Basilico (18:15) completed the scoring in the third period.

Lake Superior State outshot the U18s, 26-24, in the game.

The NTDP is back in action next week at USA Hockey Arena.  The U17s host the USHL's Fargo Force on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, the U18s host Fargo on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.

Next Saturday, the U18s host the University of Michigan at 7 p.m. ET for the NTDP’s annual Teddy Bear Toss Night. Tickets for all USA Hockey NTDP games are available at USAHockeyNTDP.com/Tix.