Box Score

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The American International College men's ice hockey team trailed 2-0 before scoring four consecutive goals on its way to a 5-3 Atlantic Hockey win at the U.S. Air Force Academy Friday night. Junior forward Nielsson Arcibal (Vista, Calif.) scored one goal with one assist to lead the Yellow Jackets.

AIC improved to 1-3-0 overall and in Atlantic Hockey action, while the Falcons dropped to 0-4-0 overall and 0-2-0 in conference play. It also marked the Yellow Jackets' first-ever win over Air Force, which had won 19 of the first 20 meetings between the two teams. The other decision was a 2-2 tie February 29, 2008 at the Academy.

The Falcons led 2-0 early in the second period before junior forward Michael Penny (Calgary, Alb.) got AIC on the board with his first goal of the year at the 6:28 mark of the middle frame off a pass from senior forward Tom Mele (Bronx, N.Y.). Freshman forward Blake Peake (Lethbridge, Alb.) also assisted on the first of three second period goals for AIC.

Sophomore forward Richard Leitner (Los Alamitos, Calif.) tied the game at two with an unassisted goal, his first of the season, midway through the second and sophomore forward Adam Pleskach (Beausejour, Man.) gave the Yellow Jackets the lead for good with 2:48 remaining in the period. Arcibal assisted on Pleskach's second goal of the year.

That lead was extended to 4-2 4:38 into the third period when senior defenseman Tomas Benovic (Trencin, Slovakia) placed his shot from the blue line just under the crossbar off a pass from senior forward Steve McLeod (Atikokan, Ont.). Sophomore forward Nick Grasso (Smithtown, N.Y.) also assisted on the play.

Junior defenseman Tim Kirby (Austin, Minn.) pulled Air Force back within one on the power play and with the goalie pulled for the six-on-four advantage with 1:34 left in the game, but Arcibal answered with an empty netter 47 seconds later to seal the win. McLeod and Pleskach assisted on Arcibal's second goal of the year.

Freshman forward Jason Fabian (Roseau, Minn.) opened the scoring for the Falcons at the 10:46 mark of the first, unassisted, for his first goal of the season. Senior forward Derrick Burnett (Corona, Calif.) scored his first of the year 22 seconds into the second period to make it a 2-0 lead for Air Force.

Sophomore goaltender Ben Miesner (Halifax, N.S.) was once again solid between the pipes as he turned away 41 shots to earn the win in goal, while freshman netminder Jason Torf (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) had 16 saves in taking the loss.

AIC pulled out the win despite being outshot 44-21 in the game, including an 11-4 margin in the first and a 21-7 margin in the third. The Yellow Jackets were one-for-two with the man-advantage, while Air Force was one-for-five on the power play.

The two teams will meet again Saturday night at 9:05 p.m. ET, 7:05 p.m. MT at Air Force.