SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Despite a 34-save effort by netminder Matt McNeely (Burnsville, Minn.) and carrying a 3-2 lead with just 4:31 to play in regulation, the U.S. National Under-17 Team was stunned by the Sioux City Musketeers, 4-3, in overtime here tonight at the Tyson Events Center.Stephan Vigier gave the Musketeers an early 1-0 lead after he scored on a wraparound at 5:46 of the opening stanza. Just 23 seconds later, Tyler Biggs (Cincinnati, Ohio) zipped a pass to Dan Carlson (Corcoran, Minn.), who slammed the puck past netminder Matt Skoff from the right side of the crease to knot the score. Team USA took the 2-1 lead at 12:42 with a power-play goal from Zac Larraza (Scottsdale, Ariz.), who slammed a rebound past Skoff on the right side for the tally.
Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif.) gave the U.S. a 3-1 advantage after his shot from the top of the right faceoff circle beat Skoff, clinked off the right post and into the net at 4:21 for a power-play goal. With just 2:08 to play in the period, Matt Paape drew the Musketeers within one after he tipped a shot just inside the right post and past McNeely.
With 4:31 remaining in regulation Ryan Carpenter put the puck past McNeely's outstretched glove from the middle slot to knot the score, 3-3. Team USA almost came away with the game-winner in the closing minutes of regulation when Michael Vilardo (Geneva, Ill.) broke in alone on Skoff, but the Musketeers netminder was able to kick his right leg out to rob Vilardo of the goal. With neither team able to get the equalizer, the game went to extra time.
Ryan Kesti blasted a slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle just inside the left post at 2:37 of the overtime period to lift Sioux City to the 4-3 win.
The U.S. National Under-17 Team returns to action Saturday night when it takes on the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena at 7:05 p.m. CDT.
NOTES: With the overtime loss, Team USA did pick up its first point in the USHL this season ... Team USA went 2-for-4 on the power play tonight, while holding Sioux City scoreless on its six power-play opportunities ... Robbie Russo (Westmont, Ill.) took sole possession of the team lead with his fifth assist tonight ... Rocco Grimaldi netted his first-career goal at the NTDP with his second-period power-play marker.
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