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Under-18 Team Drops 7-2 Decision Against No. 2 North Dakota

By USA Hockey, 01/03/15, 11:30PM EST

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Team USA Hung Close, Trailing Just 2-1 After Two Periods.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Jack Roslovic (Columbus, Ohio) and Charles McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y.) each scored once but the U.S. National Under-18 Team fell to No. 2 ranked University of North Dakota, 7-2, tonight at Ralph Engelstad Arena. With the setback, Team USA's record against NCAA opponents dropped to 7-6-2 (W-L-T).

The two teams battled to a 1-1 draw after 20 minutes. UND's Tucker Poolman scored to give North Dakota a 1-0 lead at 18:18 of the period before Roslovic connected with Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.) to knot the score 52 seconds later.

UND collected the only goal of the middle frame off the stick of Jordan Schmaltz at 12:02 and then scored three times in the first 2:55 of the third to open up a 5-1 advantage. McAvoy notched a power-play goal at 8:37 with help from Tkachuk to pull Team USA within three at 5-2, but UND gathered a pair of late tallies to close out the 7-2 victory.

Luke Opilka (St. Louis, Mo.) received the nod in goal for the U.S. and made 20 total stops.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team continues college play with a Friday night (Jan. 9) tilt against Michigan State University. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Munn Ice Arena.

Notes

The University of North Dakota outshot Team USA, 27-26 … The U18s scored once on eight power-play tries, while UND went 1-for-3 with the man advantage … Tonight's game marked the seventh all-time meeting between the U.S. National Under-18 Team and North Dakota. UND leads the all-time series, 7-0-0 … The National Team Development Program has produced 10 players who have gone on to skate at the University of North Dakota. That list includes UND standouts such as Matt Greene (Grand Ledge, Mich./2000-01), Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif./2009-11) and Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn./2006-08) … The NTDP helped develop three current UND players - Gage Ausmus (East Grand Forks, Minn./2011-13), Nick Mattson (Chanhassen, Minn./2007-09) and Keaton Thompson (Devils Lake, N.D./2011-13) … One current player at the NTDP is committed to play for UND - Christian Evers. The Waukee, Iowa, native has signed his National Letter of Intent and will join North Dakota next winter ... Additionally, former NTDP skater Shane Gersich (Chaska, Minn./2013-14), who currently suits up for Omaha in the USHL, is committed to play for North Dakota. Gersich laced up his skates for Team USA tonight as an injury replacement.

1. Michael Parks, North Dakota

2. Drake Caggiula, North Dakota

3. Matthew Tkachuk, Team USA

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