Phantoms fall to Team USA in OT

Staff report

Ann Arbor, mich.

An overtime, power play goal, lifted Team USA (30-23-5,65pts) over the Youngstown Phantoms (21-29-6,48pts) 4-3 on Saturday night. In the losing effort, Ty Loney tallied one goal and two assist as he played a role on all three Phantoms goals.

The Phantoms found themselves down in the first period when the opening goal came eight minutes into the opening period. The Phantoms got caught in their defensive zone longer than they would have liked and the puck made its way out into the slot and the shot was ripped over the glove hand and past a screened Jordan Tibbett.

The opening goal was scored by Frankie Vatrano and the assists were credited to Miles Koules and Thomas Di Pauli. Youngstown would respond and capitalize on their first power play of the game.

Chris Bradley fired a shot in from the point and it rang off the right post and crossed the goal line to tie the game at one. The assists were credited to Adam Berkle and Loney.

Like the Phantoms, Team USA would capitalize on their first power play of the game at the 16:55 mark. The National Development Program cycled the puck around the Phantoms defensive zone and an open Matthew Lane was able to lift the puck over a sliding Tibbett to tie the game at two goals with under four minutes to play.

The Phantoms would head into the first intermission trailing by just one goal.