ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Nick Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla./1-1) and Adam Fox (Jericho, N.Y./0-2) each had two-point efforts, but the U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to undefeated Des Moines, 5-3, here tonight at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The game was the first of two against the Buccaneers this weekend.

Des Moines opened the scoring 82 seconds into the first period on the power play. The Buccaneers struck again midway through the frame, but Team USA answered one minute later when James Sanchez (Northbrook, Ill.) banged a rebound past Ryland Pashovitz for the score. Pastujov and Patrick Khodorenko (Walnut Creek, Calif.) earned assists.

Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill.) knotted the contest at the 4:06 mark of the second stanza. The forward corralled the loose puck and backhanded a shot up and over Pashovitz. William Lockwood (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and Fox collected helpers on Keller's tally. Des Moines restaked the lead at 7:15 on the power play, just seconds after Team USA came out of the penalty box for one of two infractions being served. The see-saw battle continued as Pastujov broke in alone into the Buccaneers zone and snapped a shot into the net at 12:22. Fox registered his second assist on the night and the U.S. went into the locker room tied, 3-3, after 40 minutes.

Des Moines lit the lamp at 5:49 of the third, capitalizing on a miscue in front of the U17 net. Midway through the final frame, the Bucs potted their fifth goal to take a two-goal lead and held on to defeat the U.S., 5-3.

Joseph Woll (Dardenne Prairie, Mo.) made 27 saves for Team USA in the loss, while Pashovitz kicked out 20 shots in the victory for the Buccaneers.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team and Des Moines conclude a two-game set tomorrow (Oct. 19) at 3:30 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor. The contest will be streamed live on FASTHockey.

Shots were 32-23 in favor of Des Moines … Team USA went 0-3 on the power play while the Buccaneers went 2-4 … Clayton Keller has amassed a five-game point streak and has also compiled a four-game scoring streak. The forward has been held without a point only once in sevens games this season ... Nick Pastujov has points in three straight games, tallying three goals and adding three assists ... Follow the National Team Development Program on Twitter (@USANTDP) and Instagram (@USANTDP) and like us on Facebook.

1. Clayton Keller, Team USA

2. Nick Pastujov, Team USA

3. Patrick Grasso, Des Moines