GAME BOXSCORE

PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Jarod Blackowiak (SR, Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) scored the lone goal of the game for Augsburg University's men's hockey team midway through the third period, as the Auggies dropped a 6-1 exhibition contest to the United States Under-18 National Team on Wednesday evening.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: USA U-18 National Team 6, Augsburg 1 (EXHIBITION)
LOCATION: USA Hockey Arena, Plymouth, Mich.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Blackowiak scored an unassisted goal at the 10:31 mark of the third period, gaining a turnover at the USA blue line, eluding a defender and putting a shot in the upper left corner of the net. 
• The USA U-18 squad scored four goals in the first period to take a commanding lead, opening the scoring 31 seconds into play and adding three goals in a 2:41 span midway through the frame. The USA U-18 squad scored another goal 5:34 into the second period and another 36 seconds into the final frame.
• Augsburg was outshot by a 37-13 margin in the game -- 15-4 in the first period and 13-4 in the second period. Augsburg went 0-for-2 on the power play, while surrendering a power-play goal in five Team USA opportunities.
• The Auggies split their goalie time in the game, with Jack Robbel (JR, Bloomington, Minn./Shattuck-St. Mary's HS) starting and making 18 saves, and Samuel Vyletelka (FY, Zilina, Slovakia/Grammar School of St. Francis of Assisi) making 13 saves.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• The game is considered an exhibition for Augsburg, and will not count in the Auggies' results or statistics.
• It is the second-ever meeting between Augsburg and the USA U-18 National Team. The USA squad won the first meeting, also by a 6-1 score, on Nov. 22, 2014 at Augsburg's Ed Saugestad Rink.
• The USA U-18 National Team is part of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, based in Plymouth, Mich. The U-18 team plays as part of the U.S. Hockey League, the top junior hockey league in the United States. The U-18 team is now 20-6-2 on the season, including a 9-4-0 record against NCAA college squads. The team has games at Division I schools North Dakota on Saturday (1/1) and at Minnesota on Monday (1/3).

FOR THE FOES
• Cutter Gauthier scored twice in the first period as part of a three-goal hat trick, adding an assist for a four-point night for Team USA.
• Jimmy Snuggerud had a goal and two assists, and Isaac Howard and Ryan Leonard scored the other Team USA goals. Rutger McGroarty had three assists.
• Tyler Muszelik stopped 12 of the 13 shots he faced in goal.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg, ranked No. 4 in the latest USCHO.com Division III national poll, continues its holiday week road trip on Thursday (12/30) at 5 p.m. (Central time), with a game at No. 1-ranked Adrian (Mich.).