UTICA, N.Y. - The Utica College men’s hockey team lost to the U.S. National Under-18 team 10-1 in an exhibition match in front of 3,677 fans on opening night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Friday. Team USA will continue on its northeast road trip with games against Colgate and Cornell University this week.

The Pioneers open regular season play at home next Friday when they host defending National Champion Neumann University in an ECAC Men’s West Conference match up to kick off conference play. The contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on the ice at the Aud.

After over seven minutes of scoreless play Team USA went to work and scored three goals in a span of 2:07 to open up a 3-0 lead in the first period. They tacked on four more goals in the second period and held a commanding 7-1 advantage headed into the third and final period of play.

Senior forward Vincent Nucci scored the Pioneers only goal, after former ECAC Men’s West Conference Rookie of the Year Tim Coffman picked off a USA pass behind their own net and connected with Nucci in front to cut the lead to 7-1, 3:33 into the third period of play.

USA added four goals in the final 14 minutes to earn the victory.

Nick Shore, Jason Zucker and Matt Nieto led the way for the US with three points each, while Joe Wilson, Justin Faulk, Luke Moffatt and Bill Arnold each totaled two points. Six other member of the US scored one point.

Jack Campbell stopped 16 shots in 60 minutes of action in net for the US, while senior Anthony Luckow played two periods for Utica and stopped 25 shots. Freshman Pat Dunn stopped three shots in the third period for Utica.

Team USA went 3-of-8 on the power play and outshot the Pioneers 38-17.