FARGO, N.D. -  Harrison Boettiger (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) made 34 saves, but the U.S. National Under-18 Team fell in their opening game of the weekend to the Fargo Force, 4-1, Friday night in North Dakota. 

Fargo lit the lamp first after a generous call granted them a power play early in the second. NTDP alum Sam Laurila found a streaking Peter Cisar, who outwaited Boettiger before dumping it in for a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the period.

Team USA had an extended 5-on-3 power play midway through the second and peppered the net with shots, but could not put one past Lendak.

Boettiger made his save of the night with 6:36 to play in the second. Brady Arneson ended up with the puck alone in the slot and tried to play the hesitation game, but the Denver University commit stayed with him and robbed Arneson's attempt with his glove to keep it 1-0. 

After Team USA was drilled with a major penalty in the third, Landon Hafele (Fairbanks, Alaska) evened the score while shorthanded. He beat Laurila in a puck race along the boards, cut to the center and flipped his shot short-side, top-shelf over the shoulder of Lendak for his fourth score of the young season. 

On the ensuing power play, Fargo used a redirection out in front of the U.S. cage to go back on top, courtesy of Merril Steenari to take a 2-1 lead. The Force added one more before the expiration of the major penalty to extend the lead to 3-1 with 8:37 to play in regulation. 

Fargo added an empty-net tally late for the 4-1 final.

The two sides hit the ice again tomorrow in a rematch for the weekend series. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. ET from Scheels Arena.