Adrian tops USNTDP Tuesday night

The U.S. National Under-18 Team scored three power-play goals, including two from Jeremy Morin, but Shawn Skelly's third goal of the evening 47 seconds into overtime lifted Adrian College to a 6-5 victory at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube Tuesday night.

Team USA jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 1:29 into the game when Colin Moore netted his fourth goal of the season, thanks to assists from Justin Florek (Northern Michigan recruit) and Nick Pryor. Pryor took a shot from the left point that Florek tipped off Adrian goaltender Brad Fogal onto the stick of Moore. Moore then slid the puck past Fogal low on the stick side.

The Bulldogs answered with a power-play at the 4:51 mark of the opening frame, as Skelly sent a one-timer right in front of the Team USA net by Michael Clemente on the glove side.

Morin put Team USA ahead again less than a minute later with a power-play goal off helpers from David Warsofsky and Ryan Bourque. Morin took a perfect one-timer feed at the left point from Warsofsky, and connected with a shot that beat Fogal up high on the stick side.

The lead was short-lived for Team USA, however, as Brad Houston scored for Adrian off a rebound at 9:02 of the period.

During the final six minutes of the period the Bulldogs were given a two-man advantage, but Team USA was able to preserve a 2-2 tie heading into into the first intermission.

Team USA made it a 3-2 game after Vinny Saponari buried his eighth goal of the season at the six-minute mark of the second stanza. The play was made possible as a result of a timely pass by Florek from the bottom of the right circle across the slot to Saponari, who put a wrist shot inside the left post.

Jordan Schroeder gave Team USA a two-goal advantage with his eighth marker of the 2007-08 slate during a 5-on-3 power play at 12:20 of the period. He unleashed a quick shot from the slot through traffic that ended up in the back of the net.

Adrian responded with two quick goals in the final 1:32 of the middle session. Drew Satterley notched an even-strength marker at 18:28 and Eric Miller added a power-play tally at the 18:59 mark.

The Bulldogs went ahead again at 7:08 of the third period when Skelly tallied his second marker of the evening.

In wake of an Adrian penalty, Morin unleashed a powerful slap shot from the left point that ended up in the upper righthand corner of the Bulldogs' net, tying the score at 5-5 for Team USA with 2:33 left in regulation. Saponari handed out the lone assist on the goal.

Skelly notched the game-winner with a shot from the bottom of the right circle that trickled through Clemente's legs.

Clemente finished with 20 saves for Team USA, while Adrian's set of three goalies (Fogal, Bryan Scott and Jeremy Cross) combined to stop 38 shots.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team travels to Marquette for a matchup with Northern Michigan at the Berry Events Center this Saturday at 7:35 p.m. Adrian hosts MCHA foe Northland this weekend for two at the Arrington Ice Arena. Friday's game starts at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday's is a 3:00 p.m. matinee.