BOX SCORE

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – Like the night before, the Youngstown Phantoms (14-10-3-1, 32 points) saw Team USA score in the final two minutes to tie the game. Also like the night before, the Phantoms came storming back to score the game-winning goal in regulation, this time from the unlikeliest of sources, as they downed the U17s 5-4 Saturday night at the Covelli Centre.

Andrew Centrella scored the first goal of his USHL career with 19.2 seconds remaining in regulation to break a 4-4 tie. Justin Varner's shot from the right-wing boards was kicked out by Nick Kempf (30 saves), but the rebound went right to Centrella, and from the top of the left circle he fired it past Kempf for the deciding marker.

"I saw Varner shoot from a bad angle and the goalie kicked it right out to me," said Centrella. "Put it home for my first. From that point on I blacked out and couldn't take the smile off my face."

"'Trells' is a leader, he's a guy that everyone loves," said Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward. "To see him have success is something that everyone loves. He's bought in from day one, he's had a really good stretch the last four weeks, really happy for him tonight."

Youngstown opened the scoring just 1:20 into regulation when Brandon Svoboda poked a puck past Kempf for his seventh goal of the year. The Phantom lead didn't last long as, USA tied it 14 seconds later when Sam Laurila scored his first USHL goal, tapping in a pass from Cole Eiserman off a 2-on-1 break. Jacob Fowler (17 saves) helped preserve the tie game by stopping a penalty shot from Kristian Epperson at 6:05. Youngstown regained the lead late in the period on a power play goal by Matthew Perkins, set up off a nice feed from Varner.

Team USA answered back with a power play goal of their own, tying the game at 12:20 of the second with a one-timer from Eiserman from below the right dot. The Phantoms scored the next two, breaking the 2-2 tie. Jake Rozzi cashed in on a breakaway at 18:22 of the second and Andon Cerbone put home a rebound for a powerplay goal at 9:13 of the third for a 4-2 Youngstown lead. In eight road games this year, the U17s have only surrendered four power play goals in 33 kill attempts, but three of those have been against Youngstown.

The U17s would not go quietly though. Charlie Pardue fired home a one-timer, finishing off a 2-on-1 break with Brodie Ziemer at 13:37, cutting the Youngstown lead to 4-3. Youngstown was called for a head contact penalty with 1:25 left in regulation, and Team USA made them pay, scoring just four seconds into the power play on a one-time blast from the top of the right circle by Eiserman that beat Fowler to the glove side. A minute and two seconds later, Varner and Centrella teamed up to give Youngstown the win.

The Phantoms take to the road next weekend for a pair against the Muskegon Lumberjacks before returning to the Covelli Centre for a five-game homestand.

By the Numbers
Shots – 35
Saves – 17
Power Play – 2/6
Penalty Kill – 2/4
Goals – Centrella, Cerbone, Perkins, Rozzi, Svoboda
Assists – Bechen, Machu, Pietila, Rozzi (2), Varner (2), Whitelaw, Williams