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Photo by Rena Laverty
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The U.S. National Under-18 Team put on a late charge in the third period, but fell to the Boston College Eagles, 8-4, Saturday night at Conte Forum.
A pair of NTDP alums put Boston College on the board first, as the Eagles converted right after Jake Gutwirth (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had a breakaway attempt on the offensive end. For the home team, captain Eamon Powell (2018-20) entered the offensive zone and dropped it to Teddy Stiga (2022-24) at the left circle. He snapped his shot over the shoulder of Harrison Boettiger (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) for a 1-0 Eagles lead.
Boston College doubled up quickly as Brady Berard (2020-22), another NTDP alum, found Gentry Shamburger in the slot, who deposited his attempt for a 2-0 BC lead.
The Eagles added a third as another pair of NTDP alums converged on a score. Aidan Hreschuk (2019-21) took a wrister from the left point that Will Skahan (2022-24) redirected in front of the net to extend the lead to 3-0.
BC's Dean Letourneau netted off an offensive-zone draw win while shorthanded, to give the home team another with 4:22 to play in the first period.
The U18s got on the board on that same power play as Richard Gallant (Concord, Mass.) backhanded a rebound attempt past Jan Korec to make it a 4-1 contest. Jacob Kvasnicka (Wayzata, Minn.) found Jack Murtagh (East Greenbush, N.Y.) for the first shot which was denied, but Gallant was first to the rebound to get the U18s' first score.
With one second to play in the opening period, NTDP alum Gabe Perreault (2021-23) connected on a bomb of a slap shot on the power play to give the Eagles a 5-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Less than a minute into the second, Perreault led a 2-on-1 with NTDP alum James Hagens (2022-24), and found the freshmen late for a one-timer that beat Joey Slavick (Westland, Mich.), who entered the game to start the period.
The Eagles' Mike Posma added another in the second to make it a 7-1 game after 40 minutes of action.
The U18s hit the scoresheet first in the third period as Drew Schock IV (Green Bay, Wis.) converted off a great U.S. counter attack. Gutwirth led the rush down the wing and found the trailer to bring the game to 7-2.
Team USA added another quickly off a quick strike from Murtagh. Will Moore (Ithaca, N.Y.) cleared the defensive zone to start the play and Cole McKinney (Lake Forest, Ill.) got it to a streaking Murtagh for his third goal in three games played this season.
After Stiga grabbed his second of the night, Kvasnicka inserted his name into the goal column to cap the game's scoring. Kvasnicka corralled Andrew O'Neill's (Fargo, N.D.) initial shot and went top-shelf with the forehand from close range for the 8-4 final.
The U18s return to Michigan to continue their Kroger College Series slate next weekend. They get back on the ice Friday night at the University of Michigan. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. from Yost Ice Arena.