Men's NCAA Snaps USNTDP's Win Streak with 4-1 Victory

The Men's NCAA team took on the US National Team Development Program's U18 team this Saturday evening at Arrington Ice Arena in an exhibition contest in the two teams' yearly contest against one another.

Dino Balsamo would draw first blood and a 1-0 lead at the 12:32 mark of the first period off of an assist from Matt McNair. The 1-0 lead would hold through the first twenty minutes of play.

Sam Ruffin would give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead with 8:19 gone in the middle frame. Bryce Van Horn and Zachary Heintz would assist. Team USA would cut the Bulldog lead to 2-1. Heintz would net a goal of his own with less than a minute remaining in the second to give the home team a 3-1 lead heading into the final period of play. Matt Eller and Vinny Post would assist on Hentz's tally.

Balsamo would collect an empty-net goal with 1:45 remaining to solidify the win for the Bulldogs with a score of 4-1. Cameron Gray would turn away 18 of 19 shots faced in the contest while Nic Tallarico would stop all 17 shots faced.

The 4-1 win on Saturday night marks the first time that the Bulldogs would come away victorious against Team USA since the match-up in October 2011 when the Bulldogs won 6-4.

The NCAA team will be back in action one final time in 2019 on December 31st when they take on Trine at Arrington Ice Arena for a 5:00 showdown on New Year's Eve.