Massachusetts Falls to USA Junior Team, 4-0

BU's Brandon Fortunato (skating for Team USA) and Massachusetts freshman forward Ryan Badger
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 12:16  USJ1-0 EV GW Nick SchmaltzRyan MacInnis, Anders Bjork
2nd 11:52  USJ2-0 EV Sonny MilanoChristian Dvorak
3rd 5:00  USJ3-0 EV Sonny MilanoWill Borgen
3rd 5:42  USJ4-0 EV Colin WhiteChristian Dvorak, Sonny Milano
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
US World Junior Team  1124
Massachusetts  0000
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
US World Junior Team  1391133
Massachusetts  72514
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
US World Junior Team  0/2 0/0 0
Massachusetts  0/0 2/4 0
US World Junior Team Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Alex Nedeljkovic (W)28:160 7007
Brandon Halverson31:400 0257
Empty Net0:040     
Massachusetts Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Alex Wakaluk (L)60:004 128929

AMHERST, Mass. - Despite a solid defensive effort, highlighted by the play of junior Alex Wakaluk in net, University of Massachusetts hockey dropped an exhibition matchup with the U.S. National Junior Team 4-0 on Friday night at the Mullins Center.

Wakaluk, seeing his first game action since Nov. 3, made 30 stops on the evening, including 12 saves in the first period.

Shortly after a successful penalty kill by the Minutemen, the U.S. opened the scoring with a goal from the high slot by Nick Schmaltz 12:16 into the first period with Ryan MacInnis and Anders Bjork earning assists on the play.

Team USA later made it a 2-0 margin at the 11:52 mark of the second. Christian Dvorak recovered a turnover in the neutral zone and fed Sonny Milano for a spinning backhander that found its way past Wakaluk.

The Minutemen's best offensive stretch of the night came with under three minutes to play in the second period, which included a one-timer from Shane Walsh in the slot and a 2-on-1 opportunity where the puck went just wide of the net.

Freshman Kurt Keats provided another quality chance for UMass, but his backhander on a partial breakaway was denied by Brandon Halverson. Halverson played the final 31:40 in net for Team USA and totaled seven saves, while starter Alex Nedeljkovic saw 28 minutes, 16 seconds, of action and had seven stops as well.

USA completed the scoring by potting two quick tallies 42 seconds apart in the third period, first from Milano for his second of the night five minutes into the stanza and followed by Colin White who scored at the doorstep from Dvorak and Milano at 5:42.

The Minutemen held the U.S. to a 0-for-2 night on the power play, while the Red, White and Blue won 29 of 49 faceoffs on the evening.

UMass now enters its holiday break and will return to action on Jan. 2 with a game at Army West Point.