Team USA connected first, using a quick transition game to create an opportunity off a Force turnover at 8:16. Hagens tapped the puck into the empty cage after a give-and-go paly with linemate Stiga.

With less than a minute to play in the first period, Fargo found the tying goal fro Mac Swanson off a rebound in front on the power play.

The two teams traded a pair of goals apiece in the first seven minutes of the middle frame. It started with Will Skahan's (Woodbury, Minn.) first goal of the season, a rocket from the top of the left circle during 4-on-4 action. The blueliner was set up by Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.) and Kamil Bednarik (Chicago, Ill.).

Fargo answered back 31 seconds later with a Leo Gruba tally, but Stiga put Team USA in front once more with a breakaway score shortly after. He intercepted a pass and charged the length of the ice, before deking and using a pretty backhand finish for his 14th goal of the campaign.

The Force matched the score once more, the 3-3 marker coming from Peter Cisar at 6:51, assisted by Lee Parks and Gruba.

The rest of the second looked as though it would go without a goal, but Eiserman restored the U18 advantage with 29 ticks remaining in the period. John Whipple (Minnetonka, Minn.) found Brendan McMorrow (Lakeville, Minn.) in the slot for a one-timer that was padded aside by Castro. Eiserman was first to the rebound and deposited his second-chance opportunity through the five-hole to give Team USA a 4-3 lead.