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SETTING THE SCENE: This weekend's Atlantic Hockey contests are between the Crusaders of Holy Cross and the American International College Yellow Jackets.

ABOUT AIC: The Yellow Jackets enter this weekend's home-and-home with Holy Cross with a record of 2-8-0 for the season and are 2-6-0 in the AHA after splitting last weekend's series with Sacred Heart . In the first game, AIC pulled out a thrilling 5-4 overtime win against the Pioneers. Senior Chad Richardson put the Yellow Jackets up 1-0 when he found the back of the net at the 10:22 mark of the first period. Richardson received assists by freshmen Nielsson Arcibal and Luciano Primiani. Sophomore Tom Mele gave AIC a 2-0 lead in the first period as he scored just over six minutes after Richardson with assists from juniors Mike McMillan and Josh Froese. Sacred Heart would not be shutout in the first period as freshman Matt Gingera scored to make the game 2-1 heading into the first intermission. The Pioneers came out fighting early in the second period as senior Bear Trapp and junior Dave Jarman scored back-to-back goals to put Sacred Heart on togo up 3-2. The Yellow Jackets tied the game up at 3-3 just one minute later, as Primiani scored his first collegiate goal receiving assists from senior David Turco and junior Chris Campanale. But the 3-3 tie did not last long as sophomore Dave Berube netted the puck for the Pioneers just 52-seconds after Primiani tied the score, giving Sacred Heart a 4-3 lead heading into the second intermission. The 4-3 lead lasted all of 22-seconds into the third period as Richardson tallied his second goal of the game to tie the contest at 4-4, with an assist from freshman Michael Penny. The two squads then proceeded to play the final 19:38 without scoring, sending the game into overtime. In their first overtime chance of the season, the Yellow Jackets grabbed their second victory of the season as Mele found the back of the net, for the second time in the game, just 1:45 into the overtime period. Freshman Rody Selk had the lone assist on the game winning goal. Sophomore Dan Ramirez stopped 22 shots to earn the victory. In the final game of the weekend, the Pioneers posted a 4-0 victory over AIC. Senior Eric Giosa opened the scoring for Sacred Heart, scoring only 18-seconds into the first period. After entering the first intermission down 1-0, the Yellow Jackets came out in the second and allowed three unanswered goals to put themselves in a 4-0 hole. Gingera, sophomore Chris Brown, and junior Corey Laurysen each recorded goals for the Pioneers in the second period, as they would record the 4-0 shutout victory. Ramirez made 29 saves in the losing effort.
ABOUT HOLY CROSS: The Crusaders come into this weekend's contests with a record of 2-6-1 for the season and are 2-5-1 in the conference after going 0-2-0 in last weekend's series with undefeated and 12th ranked Air Force. In the first game, the Falcons pulled out a 1-0 overtime victory over Holy Cross. After three periods of scoreless play the game was sent to overtime, where junior Jeff Hajner found the back of the net with assists from seniors Josh Frider and Brent Olson, to end the game at 1-0 Air Force. Sophomore net minder Adam Roy had a 32 save effort but came up with the loss. In the weekend finale, the Falcons would not let the Crusaders threaten their undefeated season again as the won handily at 5-1. Sophomore Sean Bertsch scored first for Air Force, putting them on top 1-0 in the first period. Junior Ryan Driscoll tied the game at 1-1 for Holy Cross with an assist from Matt Celin, but it was the only time the Crusaders found the back of the net as the Falcons ripped off four unanswered goals to finish the game. Juniors Brett Nylander and Matt Fairchilder, Frider, and sophomore Blake Page each recorded goals for Air Force. Roy made 39 saves in the loss.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET: AIC went 1-1 last season against the Crusaders. In the first game, the Yellow Jackets recorded a 3-2 victory. Holy Cross went up 2-0 in the first period as sophomore Jamie Jelinek and Brian Gabriel each scored. Then AIC went on a 3-0 scoring run as Mele, McMillan, and junior Frankie DeAngelis each tallied goals to record the 3-2 victory for the Yellow Jackets. The Crusaders recorded a 5-3 victory on January 15, 2008. AIC received goals from Campanale, senior Keith Rodger, and Bryan Jurynec, while Holy Cross's goals came from sophomores Joe Brock, Mark Znutas and Everett Sheen, senior Dewey Thompson, and Cal St. Denis. Roy made 31saves in the victory, while Ramirez tallied 23 stops in the loss.
NEXT UP: AIC has a quick turn around after a weekend set with Holy Cross as they travel to Bentley for an AHA contest on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at the Ryan Skating Arena.