October 24, 2009

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif.) and Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, Conn.) each scored, but five power-play goals helped the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders defeat the U.S. National Under-17 Team, 7-2, here tonight.

Cedar Rapids struck first when Bryce Aneloski blasted a slapshot over goaltender Matt McNeely's (Burnsville, Minn.) shoulder for a power-play tally at 9:53 of the opening stanza. Zach Lehrke added a power-play goal of his own after he collected a rebound and slammed it home from the left side of the cage at 13:32. With just 2:15 to play in the period, Grimaldi streaked into the RoughRiders' end down the left side and wired a shot past Troy Grosenick from inside the right faceoff circle to cut the deficit in half.

A quick goal from Cason Hohmann at 1:09 of the second frame put Cedar Rapids ahead, 3-1. Lehrke added his second power-play tally just 59 seconds later to make it 4-1. Haggerty narrowed the gap for Team USA after his wristshot from the high slot zipped past Grosenick at 12:50 for a power-play marker.

Despite McNeely's 15-save effort in the third period, Cedar Rapids found the back of the net three times. Aneloski scored twice on the power-play, while Jared Beers added a goal with just 2:21 to play to account for the 7-2 final.

McNeely logged 38 saves on the night.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team returns to action Thursday (Oct. 29) when it takes on the West Division-leading Omaha Lancers at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube at 7:05 p.m. CDT.

NOTES: Ryan Haggerty notched his team-best fifth goal and eighth point ... Rocco Grimaldi found the back of the net for the second straight game ... Michael Vilardo (Geneva, Ill.) earned his first-career NTDP point with his assist on Grimaldi's goal ... Team USA finished the game 1-for-2 on the power play ... Cedar Rapids is tied with Chicago at the top of the East Division standings with 12 points apiece, which knots both with Omaha for first place overall in the United States Hockey League.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

First Period - Scoring: 1, CR, Aneloski (Costello), 9:53 (pp); 2, Lehrke (Bennett), 13:32 (pp); 3, USA, Grimaldi (Vilardo), 17:45. Penalties: USA, Grimaldi (interference), 9:45; USA, Boyd (holding), 12:55.

Second Period - Scoring: 4, CR, Hohmann (Aneloski), 1:09; 5, CR, Lehrke (Bennett), 2:08 (pp); 6, USA, Haggerty (Privitera), 12:50 (pp). Penalties: USA, Paliotta (cross-checking), 1:59; CR, Fallen (tripping), 11:05; USA, Biggs (interference), 13:27; USA, Kaib (delay of game), 17:12; CR, Costello (holding), 17:12; CR, Costello (delay of game), 17:12.

Third Period - Scoring: 7, CR, Aneloski (Megna), 7:12 (pp); 8, CR, Aneloski (Hohmann), 15:10 (pp); 9, CR, Beers (Costello), 17:39. Penalties: USA, Russo (checking from behind), 6:19; USA, Team (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:07; CR, DeBlois (roughing), 20:00; USA, Biggs (roughing), 20:00.