LUCERNE, Switzerland - Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo.) and Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.) scored two goals apiece as the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team defeated the Czech Republic, 7-2, here today at Arena Lucerne. With the victory, Team USA advances to the semifinal round at the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's Under-18 World Championship.

Team USA opened the scoring at 15:07 on the power play. Christian Fischer (Wayne, Ill.) found Matthews for a one-time blast from the bottom of the right circle. Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.) earned the secondary assist. Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill.) doubled the U.S. lead, 2-0, when he skated unimpeded to the front of the net directly off the center-ice draw. Dekeing the goalie out of position, Keller put the puck past the sprawled out Daniel Vladar. Michael Floodstrand (Hinsdale, Ill.) slid a well-placed shot between Vladar’s pads to extend the U.S. advantage, 3-0, at the 13-minute mark. Brendan Warren (Carleton, Mich.) and Troy Terry (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) collected helpers. Matthews lit the lamp at 15:07 with Fischer and Jordan Greenway (Potsdam, N.Y.) assisting.

The lone tally of the second stanza belonged to the Czech Republic as they chipped away at the U.S. lead. The United States outshot the Czechs, 11-6, in the period but couldn't add to its goal total.

Tkachuk pushed the puck up to Matthews who potted his second goal on the afternoon just 41 seconds into the third. Jeremy Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.) knocked in a rebound to further distance the U.S. from the Czechs, 6-1. Casey Fitzgerald (North Reading, Mass.) had the initial shot on goal and Colin White (Hanover, Mass.) also assisted. The Czech Republic notched a goal at 12:39 but Kunin shoveled the puck into the cage just over a minute later and Team USA won 7-2.

Evan Sarthou (Black Diamond, Wash.) turned aside 12 shots for Team USA in the victory.

Today's victory puts the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team in the semifinals on Saturday (April 25) against Canada. The contest will be held in Zug, Switzerland, and will be streamed live through FASTHockey.com.