ROMANSHORN, Switzerland – The U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to Switzerland, 6-3, Tuesday afternoon inside EZO Eissportzentrum Oberthurgau in their sole pre-tournament game ahead of the U17 Four Nations Tournament.

Switzerland added a pair in the first four minutes of the second, including one shorthanded goal, to put the U.S. down, 3-1. Another tally from Switzerland in the second extended their lead to three.

Team USA cut their deficit to a pair with 8:19 left in the second off the blade of James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y.). Defenseman EJ Emery (Compton, Calif.) collected the puck at the blue line and sent a cross-ice pass to Noah Lapointe (Hinsdale, Ill.). Lapointe wound up a shot on net and generated a rebound opportunity as the puck was brought around onto Hagens stick for the goal. Switzerland regained the three-goal lead, however, adding their fifth with under a minute to go.

The U.S., once again, cut their deficit to two with 5:03 left in the final period. Teddy Stiga (Sudbury, Mass) steamed up ice with the puck and found Sam Laurila (Moorhead, Minn.) who went wide around a Swiss defenseman. Laurila sent it towards the net where a streaking Christian Humphreys (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was at the crease to tap in the puck. The U.S. comeback came up short, as Switzerland tallied another to make the 6-3 final.

Kempf started in net for Team USA.

The Under-17 Team opens up round robin play at the U17 Four Nations Tournament Thursday (Dec. 15) against Sweden at 8:00 a.m. ET. Thursday’s game can be streamed free here along with live stats available here.