PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Despite multi-point nights from Will Moore (Ithaca, N.Y.) and Conrad Fondrk (White Bear Lake, Minn.), the U.S. National Under-18 Team fell to the Youngstown Phantoms, 8-5, to split their USHL preseason slate. 

The game was Team USA's annual "Play With Purpose" charity game, played on the Mitchel Kiefer Memorial Rink at USA Hockey Arena, in an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. 

The visitors grabbed an early lead as Jack Hextall connected short-side on the Phantoms first shot of the game, less than a minute into the contest.

Team USA jumped in front before the close off the period off a pretty play between Mooney and Fondrk. On the power play, Drew Schock (Green Bay, Wis.) dropped it for Mooney who carved up the right wing and found Fondrk on the back door for a 2-1 U.S. lead. 

Youngstown came back with both goals in the middle period. First, it was Zach Morin, who came out of the penalty box to a stretch pass and beat Harrison Boettiger (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) in alone just 65 seconds into the period. 

The Phantoms took the lead when Michael Coleman put home a loose puck that was sitting in the crease after a deflection in front to make it 3-2, which stood until the second intermission. 

Team USA came out flying in the third frame, grabbing two goals to retake the lead less than two minutes into the period. Landon Hafele (Fairbanks, Alaska) flew down the left wing before depositing his shot top-shelf to tie the game at three goals apiece.

Just more than a minute later, Moore grabbed his second of the night, finishing from the slot with help from Donny Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.) and Will Belle (Minnetonka, Minn.). 

Youngstown brought the game back to even with a quick slot shot from Ryan Rucinski and went back on top courtesy of a Michael Mesic goal, all in the period's first five minutes. 

Team USA netted the next score to once again bring the game back to a tie as Will Horcoff (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) redirected an Asher Barnett (Wilmette, Ill.) attempt while stationed in front of the cage. Charlie Trethewey (Woodbine, Md.) collected the second assist on the score at 6:44 of the third. 

The Phantoms found the eventual game-winner as Luke Osburn's shot from center ice deflected off Boettiger and trickled into the net for a 6-5 lead. 

Justin Kerr and Coleman both added scores for Youngstown at the end of regulation for the game's 8-5 final. 

The U18s return to the ice next weekend as part of the USHL Fall Classic in Cranberry, Pennsylvania. They take on the Sioux Falls Stampede on Saturday and close the Classic with a Sunday afternoon tilt against the Waterloo Black Hawks.