BOX SCORE

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The Youngstown Phantoms (13-4-2-0, 28pts) returned home Friday after a four-game road trip and earned a hard-fought victory over Team USA 5-4 at the Covelli Centre.
"I thought the guys dug deep and never quit," said Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward. "Overall, it's good to get a win at home."

Jack Murtagh of Team USA opened the scoring at 7:23 of the first period, when he beat Owen Bartoszkiewicz (19 saves) with a glove-side wrister. The Phantoms quickly went on the penalty kill after the goal when Adam Pietila was called for checking from behind at 10:09. Despite being down a man, Brecken Smith found the back of the net on a shorthanded goal at 11:19 in the first, tying up the game at one goal apiece.  Andrew Strathmann gave the Phantoms the lead at 15:22 in the first period, sneaking a shot inside the far post on Joey Slavick (8 saves). The lead would not last long, however, as Team USA tied the game with a goal from Cullen Potter at 16:38.

Team USA switched goalies at the start of the second period, with Patrick Quinlan (20 saves) taking control of the visitors' net for the remainder of the contest. Despite a change in opposing goalies, this would not stop Sam Ranallo from lighting the lamp early on in the second period at 2:59, giving Youngstown a 3-2 lead in the process.  Daniel Jencko continued the hot start to his USHL career, lighting the lamp with a power play tally at 7:06 in the second period, extending the Phantoms lead on Team USA by the count of 4-2.

The third period began a lot like the opening of the first period, with few stoppages of play. But at 7:31 of the period, Will Moore of Team USA would be the first person to find twine, cutting Youngstown's lead to a one at 4-3. It would not remain that way for long, however, as Jencko redirected a Sascha Boumedienne shot past Quinlan two minutes later at 9:00 in the third, restoring the two-goal lead. Team USA answered back once more thanks to Conrad Fondrk at 1:43 in the third, making it a one-goal game again. Team USA pulled Quinlan to the bench at 18:14 to try and knot the game up with the extra attacker, but the Phantoms held them off for the remaining 1:46 of the game to secure a hard-fought win.

The Phantoms will take to the road for a four-game road trip beginning with the Muskegon Lumberjacks in Rochester, New York next Thursday and Friday, followed by two games against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in Iowa on December and 8th and 9th. Youngstown will return home to the Covelli Centre on December 15th against Team USA's U18 squad.
 
By the Numbers
Shots – 33
Saves – 19
Power Play – 1/3
Penalty Kill – 4/4
Goals – Jencko (2), Ranallo, Smith, Strathmann
Assists – Boumedienne, Cerrato (2), Smith, Strathmann (2), Young (2)