NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Holds On To Defeat Cleveland 3-2

April 21, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


PARMA, Ohio -- The U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated the Cleveland Barons tonight by a score of 3-2 at the Lakefront Lines Arena. Tony Mosey (Apple Valley, Minn.) scored the game winning goal and USA goaltender Brad Phillips (Farmington Hills, Mich.) made several key saves late in the third to propel his team to victory and a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-seven North American Hockey League north division finals.

The National Team took a 1-0 lead as Mike Cieslak (Penfield, NY) deflected a Kevin Shattenkirk (New Rochelle, NY) shot from the point past Cleveland goaltender Bobby Jarosz at 1:58 of the opening frame. Team USA maintained its one goal lead as the teams headed into the first intermission.

The offense for both clubs took center stage in the second period as the teams combined for four goals in the stanza. The Barons opened up the period's scoring just 35 seconds in as Carter Camper fed Pat Goebel for a one-timer that beat Phillips. Team USA responded with a Joseph Lavin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) power-play goal at 4:03. Lavin's blast from the top of the zone was set up by USA forward Brennan Vargas (Coon Rapids, Minn.). At 5:23 of the period Barons goaltender Jarosz stopped another Shattenkirk blast from the point but was unable to corral the rebound which was banged home by Mosey to increase the Team USA lead to two goals. At the 16:30 mark of the second, the Barons again cut the Team USA lead to one with a goal by Josh Leonard. As the end of the second period the score remained 3-2 in favor of Team USA.

Despite consistent pressure from the Barons throughout the course of the third period, Cleveland was unable to score. The majority of the final period was played in the Team USA defensive end as Phillips had to make several big stops to preserve his team's lead. With 1:23 remaining in the final frame Cleveland forward Tomas Petruska received a long breakout pass which led to a breakaway, but Phillips was up to the challenge and made the save. The Barons had chances in the final minute but were unable to find the net as the National Team held on for the 3-2 victory.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team's victory gives it a two games to one lead in the best-of-seven series versus Cleveland. Game four will be tomorrow night (April 22) back at Lakefront Lines Arena in Parma, Ohio. Game time for Saturday's contest is set for 7:30 p.m.

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