PLYMOUTH, Mich. — The Bloomington Thunder have three California natives on the roster and all three scored a goal on Friday night in a 3-1 win over Team USA in the series opener at USA Hockey Arena.

Ethan Somoza and Alec Mehr both scored in the first 10 minutes of the game, Jake Durflinger added his 11th tally of the season, and Gabe Mollot-Hill stopped 23 shots to help the Thunder (23-24-4-3, 53 pts) win for the third time in the last four games.

A Bemidji State commit, Somoza put the Thunder up early, beating Team USA netminder Adam Scheel with a backhander from the low right circle just 4:32 into the opening period.

Alec Mehr added to that lead only a couple of minutes later with his third goal in his last five games. With Mehr positioned and waiting in the left circle, Durflinger fed him from behind the goal. Mehr then snapped off a one-timer to make it a 2-0 lead with 9:54 gone in the first.

Neither team found the back of the net again for another 40 minutes, as both goaltenders settled in. Durflinger (University of Denver) finally broke the silence with a one-timer goal with 10:32 left in regulation. Walker Duehr set up the goal with a great feed from the left wing wall, finding Durflinger point blank at the right side of the net. Duehr (Minnesota State Mankato) had a pair of assists in the game for his ninth multi-point effort of the season, while Durflinger had his third multi-point outing of the year with a goal and an assist.

The U17s (21-30-1-2, 45 pts) finally got on the board in the final 10 minutes of regulation, as Skyler Brind’Amour scored at 13:03 to spoil Mollot-Hill’s chance at the shutout. The Providence College recruit had 11 saves in the third period to earn his 10th win of the season.

The Thunder will go for the weekend sweep on Saturday night, facing the Under-18 team at 6 p.m. CT.

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