Photo by Rena Laverty
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin commits Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis.) and Alex Turcotte (Island Lake, Ill.) delivered multi-point efforts against their future team as the U.S. National Under-18 Team topped the Badgers by a 6-2 final Saturday night at the Kohl Center.
The U18s secured their 10th win against an NCAA opponent during the 2018-19 season and improved their overall record to 24-8-2-0.
Caufield (2 goals, 1 assist) and Turcotte (1 goal, 1 assist) led the offensive charge for the U18s, but John Beecher (Elmira, N.Y.) opened the scoring at the 2 minute, 4 second mark of the opening frame when he found the back of the net with a quick wrist shot from the left circle.
After Wisconsin responded within three minutes to tie the game, Cam York (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) crashed the front of the net and tapped in a rebound to help Team USA regain the lead. York's tally marked his first against collegiate opponents.
Caufield and Turcotte, along with Matthew Boldy (Millis, Mass.) added second-period goals to extend the U18s' lead to 5-2.
Caufield's first tally, which came after Team USA forced a turnover in the neutral zone, marked his team-leading 29th goal of the season.
Turcotte scored the U18s' fifth goal of the game off a centering feed from Alex Vlasic (Wilmette, Ill.)
Caufield netted his second of the contest in the final frame to seal the win. The power-play marker represented his 84th career goal and moved him into a tie for second all-time in NTDP history alongside Patrick Kane (2004-06).
Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) backstopped the U18s and made 21 saves in the victory.
The U18s return to USHL action with a Tuesday tilt against the Youngstown Phantoms. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET at USA Hockey Arena. Tickets are available at USAHockeyNTDP.com/Tix.
NOTES: Team USA outshot Wisconsin 36-23 ... The U18s went 2-for-4 on the power play and killed off all six penalties they faced.
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