1.) Mattias Samuelsson (USA)

2.) Joel Farabee (USA)

3.) Eriks Zohovs (YNG)

PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Mattias Samuelsson (Voorhees, N.J.) scored a goal just 1:05 into an overtime period to seal a 5-4 overtime win over the Youngstown Phantoms on Friday night at USA Hockey Arena.

Jake Pivonka (Naperville, Ill.) wrapped around the back of the Phantoms’ net and sent the puck to Samuelsson, who was waiting near the top right faceoff dot to send the puck past Youngstown’s goaltender for the overtime finisher.

Patrick Giles (Chevy Chase, Md.) opened the scoring for the U18s when he pounced on a rebound in the slot and shot it past the scrambling Youngstown goalkeeper. Jack DeBoer (Madison, N.J.) and Gavin Hain (Grand Rapids, Minn.) after they put the initial shots on net.

U18s goaltender Jonathan Mor (Highland Park, Ill.) kept the game at 1-0 with a breakaway save with 2:40 remaining in the 1st period.

Erik Middendorf (Scottsdale, Ariz.) extended the lead to 2-0 on a short-handed tally with just 3 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Trevor Janicke (Maple Grove, Minn.) won the faceoff back to Ty Emberson (Eau Claire, Wis.) who fired a shot wide but had it returned to him by Janicke. Emberson then sent a shot to the front of the net where Middendorf deflected the puck from his skate to his stick and pushed it around the outstretched Phantoms goaltender.

U18s entered the first intermission leading 2-0.

Youngstown made it on the board early in the second period with a goal at 17:54, but Pivonka answered back quickly with a power play goal to keep the U18s ahead.

Another Phantoms goal soon after pushed the score to 3-2 to close out the second period.

With 14:05 left in the third period, Youngstown tied it up at 3-3, but Adam Samuelsson (San Diego, Cali.) retaliated off assists from Joel Farabee (Cicero, N.Y.) and Jonathan Gruden (Rochester, Mich.) to give the U18s a 4-3 lead.

A late goal from the Phantoms’ Trevor Kuntar knotted the game up at 4-4, and both teams went into a five-minute overtime to determine the winner. Samuelsson’s goal pushed the final score to 5-4, sending the U18s to a win over the Phantoms.

Mor split time in the net with Drew DeRidder (Fenton, Mich.), and the goaltenders recorded 21 and 13 saves, respectively.

The U18s are now currently tied for first place in the United States Hockey League, sitting with 12 points alongside the Chicago Steel, Fargo Force and Tri-City Storm. Team USA will next play on Sunday, Nov. 3rd in Finland to kick off the Five Nations Tournament against Switzerland at 9 am.

Team USA will return to USA Hockey Arena on Nov. 17th against the Youngstown Phantoms at 7:05 pm. Tickets are available at USAHOCKEYNTDP.COM/TIX.