MUSKEGON – The Muskegon Lumberjacks knew they would have a challenge this weekend when the talented Team USA 18-Under squad came to down, and boy were they right.

The 18’s dominated from start-to-finish on Friday night, scoring six times in the first two periods and beating the Jacks 8-4 at Mercy Health Arena.

It was a disappointing start to a six-game home stand for the Lumberjacks, who came into the contest with three losses in their last four games, and are trying to remain in the race for the USHL’s Eastern Conference championship.

The Lumberjacks are now 25-16-6 on the season and remain in third place in the conference.

Muskegon will look to bounce back against the 18-Under squad on Saturday night, before playing another four straight games at home.

Muskegon’s Quinn Hutson tries to control the puck with teammate Jake Richard trailing the play. Photo/Tonya Pardon

“You’re not going to win any games by giving up eight goals,” said Lumberjacks coach Mike Hamilton. “Goaltending, defense, team defense, back checking, all those things. You’re not going to play a team that fast and skilled, and try to play that exact type of game, and expect to win. We were not physical enough and we didn’t defend very well. It was disappointing.”

It didn’t take Team USA long to open the scoring. Jimmy Snuggerud put the puck in the net just 41 seconds into the contest to give his team a 1-0 advantage.

The Lumberjacks tied the score 44 seconds later with a goal from Ben Strinden, but it was downhill for the home team from there.

Team USA regained its advantage 3:43 into the first period with a goal from Cutter Gauthier.

The Lumberjacks’ Ben Strinden is congratulated after scoring a goal. Photo/Tonya Pardon

Muskegon had an excellent opportunity to score the equalizer, receiving a five-minute power play 4:09 into the first, after Team USA forward Charlie Stramel plowed into goaltender Aleksandr Kuleshov.

But the Jacks failed to take advantage of the long power play, and gave up a shorthanded goal later in the period to Team USA’s Frank Nazar.

The visitors led 3-1 at the first break.

The Lumberjacks allowed another early goal in the second period when Gauthier notched his second of the night just 15 seconds in, putting Team USA up 4-1.

Jake Braccini scored a power play goal for Muskegon at the 1:06 mark, but Team USA closed out the middle period with goals from Will Smith (10:56) and Logan Cooley (13:58) to increase its lead to 6-2 heading into the third.

Muskegon’s Jake Richard (19) battles for the puck in front of the Team USA net. Photo/Tonya Pardon

The Lumberjacks got another power play goal from Braccini at 3:06 of the third period, but Team USA responded 14 seconds later with a tally by Ryan Chesley.

Team USA got its final goal when Gauthier completed a hat trick at 11:24 of the third period. Jake Richard scored the Lumberjacks’ final goal at 14:51.

Team USA outshot the Lumberjacks by a 39-35 margin.

Kuleshov left the game after being injured in the first period and Chase Clark finished the rest of the contest in net for the Lumberjacks. He stopped 29 of the 35 shots he faced.

“He will be fine,” Hamilton said about Kuleshov. “He has a little bump, and I don’t think it will be anything long term. But at the end of the day, it was an opportunity to swing the momentum of the game. The disappointment is how we responded.”