Brunswick, ME – The USA National Team Development Under-18 squad was the lone team to go undefeated at the Bowdoin-Colby Classic, skating away with the 2-1 victory over Bowdoin College Sunday afternoon at Sid Watson Arena.

“I thought that was a good hockey game,” said Team USA Head Coach Danton Cole. “I thought both teams fought hard and did good things defensively, a lot of good battles in the trenches.”

For Team USA, Bowdoin was like any other opponent that’s on their schedule.

“I think it’s hard just because it’s different levels,” said Cole. “One thing that we learned is that these are tough games for us. The guys are a little bit older on the other side of the ice. They battle hard and they are all well-coached teams. We pick certain (college teams for a reason. It shouldn’t be hard for our guys to get up. We lost a couple of them and didn’t play real well.”

Both teams battled as Team USA said it was one of their most physical games they have faced.

“Everybody was pretty physical out there,” said Nicolas Kerdiles, who is committed to Wisconsin for next season.

“They forechecked really hard, and they came with two guys on defense,” said defenseman Seth Jones, who is a potential top five selection in the 2013 NHL draft. “Every time you went to get the puck you were getting hit.”

The Americans scored first when Boston College recruit Brendan Silk’s shot deflected off a Polar Bears stick into the net. Stefan Matteau was given credit with the lone assist at the 13:57 mark of the opening frame.

Bowdoin came back with a power-play goal with a little over four minutes remaining in the first period. Danny Palumbo potted the puck home with John McGinnis and Harry Matheson setting the tally up.

Bowdoin went 1-for-4 with the man advantage, while USA was 0-for-6 on the night.

The U-18’s retook the lead as Patrick Sieloff pinched in from his defensive position and slid the puck by Bowdoin goalie Steve Messina at the 9:20 mark. Nicolas Kerdiles set the goal up to get the lone assist.

“We like to get our defensemen involved a little bit,” said Cole. “The key for them is coming from behind and joining the rush. He did a great job. He came in with a ton of speed and made a nice move to the net.”

“I just took the puck wide, lifted the guys stick and (Sieloff) called for the puck. I dished it to him,” said Kerdiles, who assisted on the goal.

Despite dominating the first two periods, the Americans knew the Polar Bears would come out blazing in the third period.

“The guys were aware that they were at home and they are behind,” said Cole. “They are hockey players. They will play hard.”

Bowdoin was able to fire eight shots in the final frame.

Steve Messina made 32 saves for the Polar Bears. Jared Rutledge stopped 25 shots for USA.

“(Messina) played really well,” said Cole. “We had a hard time getting things behind him.”

University of New England – 3; UMass-Boston – 3

The University of New England couldn’t hold a two-goal lead as they had to settle for a 3-3 against the University of Massachusetts-Boston in the PAL Championship game in Hooksett, NH on Sunday afternoon.

The Nor’Easters would win in a shootout, 2-0, to decide the tournament winner, but game is recorded as a tie in the standings as UNE improves to 2-4-1 overall (1-3-0 ECAC East).

The Beacons opened the scoring in the first period when Travis Daniel scored his second of the season, beating UNE’s freshmen goalie Craig Ryan at 15:39 of the period to take a 1-0 lead.

UNE scored the next three goals, starting with Zeth Zielinski, who recorded three points (1g, 2a) on the night, with 1:56 remaining in the opening period.

The Nor’Easters took the lead, 2-1, less than two minutes into the second period after Nick Kolb found the back of the net for a power-play goal, beating UMass-Boston netminder Alex Scola.

Just before the 10 minute mark of the second period, Scott McManaman extended the Nor’Easters lead to 3-1.

UNE couldn’t hold the lead as Andrew Burke scored twice in the final three minutes of the second period.

Burke scored his first of the night on a five-on-three power play with 3:13 left in the period, and again in the final 10 seconds, scoring his third of the season to tie the game at 3.

Falmouth native Mike Chase recorded two assists in the game for UNE to give him seven points (1g, 6a) on the year.