Moe's Hat-Trick Leads U18s Past Robert Morris, 3-2

USA Hockey National Team Development Program

Moe's Hat-Trick Leads U18s Past Robert Morris, 3-2

By USA Hockey's NTDP, 10/12/24, 9:30PM EDT

Boettiger makes 25 saves in second win of season

Photo by Rena Laverty

PLYMOUTH, Mich. - NTDP newcomer Mason Moe (Eden Prairie, Minn.) collected a hat-trick as the U.S. National Under-18 Team picked up its first Kroger College Series win, taking down Robert Morris by a 3-2 final Saturday night at USA Hockey Arena.

The Colonials netted first as Mitch Deelstra forced a puck over the goal line after Harrison Boettiger (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) made the initial stop. Cody Monds and Michael Felsing assisted the 1-0 goal at 8:30 of the first.

Box Score

Highlights

Twelve different U.S. skaters registered a shot in the opening 20 minutes as Team USA doubled up the Colonials in shots, 14-7, but could not find the back of the net as the period ended at 1-0.

The U18s finally got one to go on their 20th shot of the evening as Moe finished amongst traffic in front of the net at 12:40 of the second. After some hard puck battles along the boards, Lincoln Kuehne (West Fargo, N.D.) came out with it and found Moe in the slot, who fired in for his first point in the red, white and blue.

Boettiger pitched a perfect middle frame, turning aside all 12 shots he saw to give him a two-period total of 18 saves.

Moe put the U18s on top with his second goal of the game at 12:40 of the third. Andrew O'Neill (Fargo, N.D.) won the offensive-zone draw back to Asher Barnett (Wilmette, Ill.) at the right point. His attempt got clogged up, but the puck went right to Moe, who fired off the post and in for a 2-1 lead.

Fifty-five seconds later, Will Moore (Ithaca, N.Y.) was awarded a penalty shot, but his attempt went wide as the score remained.

With 3:25 to play in regulation, Robert Morris brought the game back to even courtesy of Tanner Klimpke's second-chance shot. Walter Zacher drove the net for the initial shot, which Boettiger got a piece of, but Klimpke followed up to make it two goals apiece.

Moe completed his hat-trick on a perfect 2-on-1 rush with Richard Gallant (Concord, Mass.). Kuehne drove the puck out of the defensive zone to spur the rush. Gallant went down the right wing, hesitated and slid a perfect pass that Moe potted for his third score of the night and 3-2 U.S. win.

Boettiger finished with 25 saves to pick up his second win of the season in net.

The U18s return to Kroger College Series action next weekend with a pair of games on the East Coast, traveling to Harvard and Boston College. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET Friday evening from the Bright-Landry Hockey Center in Allston, Mass., as the team takes on the Harvard Crimson.