The U18s overall record falls to 18-6-2-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL) and its record in NCAA play is now 5-5-0 (W-L-T).

Nine Team USA players recorded a shot on net but were unable to slide it past the Spartan goaltender John Lethemon in the first period. After 20 minutes of play, Cameron Rowe (Wilmette, Ill.) stopped all nine Michigan State shots, keeping the score locked at zero.

The U18s defense stood tall in the second period, blocking nine shots to keep the Spartans off the board. On the other end of the ice, Team USA took 17 shots, with nine of those on goal. With both teams fighting hard to find their first goal, the score remained 0-0 at the end of the second.

Entering the third period, Michigan State University got the first goal of the game on a 5-on-3 powerplay at 4:34. NTDP alum Patrick Khodorenko (NTDP 2014-16) buried a one-time shot off a rebound from Dennis Cesana’s. John Beecher (Elmira, N.Y.) responded two minutes later with a shot but was stopped by the crossbar. The U18s continued to fight through the third, Boldy got a tip off a shot from Alex Turcotte (Island Lake, Ill.) but it was saved.

The U18s return to action tomorrow night, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. ET when it takes on Lake Superior State University at USA Hockey Arena and resumes USHL play at home on Dec. 19 at 10:30 a.m. ET against Muskegon Lumberjacks.

Tickets for all Team USA games can be purchased by visiting the USA Hockey Arena box office located at 14900 Beck Rd. in Plymouth, Michigan, by calling 743-453-8400 or by visiting USAHockeyNTDP.com/Tix.

NOTES: Team USA went 0-3 on the power play and 1-3 on the penalty kill... The U18s were outshot 33-28.