URBANDALE, Iowa - Kristian Epperson (Mequon, Wis.) scored a goal and added an assist, but the U.S. National Under-17 Team's comeback effort fell short as they dropped a 6-3 contest to the Des Moines Buccaneers today at Buccaneer Arena.

Liam Watkins added a third to the Buccaneers' tally 21 seconds into the middle frame with a quick tip-in right outside the paint, then a nifty move by Brittan Alstead made it 4-0 heading into the final 20.

Will Horcoff (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) got the U.S. on the board 1:52 into the third. Epperson, along the boards, dished the puck to his linemate, and Horcoff wired a wrister from atop the right circle.

The Bucs responded less than a minute later with an Ashton Dahms tally off the rush.

Epperson made it a 5-2 game just past the period's halfway mark. Charlie Trethewey (Woodbine, Md.) picked up a rebound and fed it to Epperson along the goal line, who slid it past Des Moines' Ethan Dahlmeir for a power-play goal.

A second power-play tally, this time from Will Moore (Ithaca, N.Y.), added a third to the U17's count. Donny Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.) intercepted a clearing attempt at the point and sent the puck towards the net. Moore got a stick on it for the redirect with 4:55 left in the contest.

A Paul Minnehan tip-in brought the final score to 6-3.

Quinlan finished with 25 saves in the U.S. net.

The U17s are back on the road next weekend as they head to Illinois for a series against the Chicago Steel. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. ET on Saturday (March 9) from Fox Valley Ice Arena.