Brody George (Johnstown, Pa.) nearly broke the game open at the 13:56 mark as a Youngstown broken stick led top a breakaway but the opportunity was saved. However, it was Youngstown to score first as it scored a pair of goals 3:28 apart to make it 2-0 with 6:28 to go in the period.

Nelson put Team USA on the board with 8:00 to play in the middle frame  to cut the Phantoms lead in half. Skating four-on-four, Logan Lutner (Maple Grove, Minn.) picked up a loose puck in the defensive zone and pushed it to Nelson. Nelson skated towards the offensive-zone dot and fired one past Youngstown netminder Tobias Trejbal right as both skaters left the penalty box.

The Phantoms regained its two-goal lead 4:34 into the third period after it converted off a turnover. Team USA rallied though as Plante made it a one-goal game on the power play 2:58 later. Logan Stuart (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) worked the puck around to Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.) at the goal line and found Plante on the far side crease for the tap in.

Down one with under two minutes to go, the U.S. gave one final push with its net empty but the Phantoms converted twice to take the game, 5-2.

Brady Knowling (Chicago, Ill.) started in net for the U.S. and stopped 17 shots.

The team returns to USA Hockey Arena Friday (Oct. 3) for its first game of the Kroger College Series as Notre Dame comes to town.  Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET. Tickets for Friday's game, and all home games this season, are available at USAHockeyNTDP.com/tix or by calling the box office at 734-453-8400. All fans will receive a U18 team poster* with an autograph session from all members of the U.S. National Under-18 Team following the game.

*While supplies last