Box Score

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –The American International College ice hockey team took a 6-2 win against Rochester Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon. The win improves the Yellow Jackets to 4-8-0 overall and 4-8-0 in Atlantic Hockey while the loss drops the Tigers to 6-7-2 overall and 5-3-1 in the conference.

AIC got on the board just 6:19 into the first-period when junior forward Michael Penny (Calgary, Alb.) found the back of the net during a powerplay off a pass from freshman forward Nick Sandor (Vancouver, B.C.) The Yellow Jackets added another goal to make it 2-0 heading into the second-period when junior forward Nielsson Arcibal (San Jose, Calif.) lifted the puck past RIT's goalie.

Junior Defenseman Chris Haltigin (Oakville, Ont.) put the Tigers within one goal to make the score 2-1 just 1:43 into the second. Freshman forward Michael Colavecchia (Maple, Ont.) earned the assist of Haltigin's goal.

The Yellow Jackets went up another goal as sophomore forward Adam Pleskach (Beausejour, Man.) scored at 7:13 on a powerplay off a dish from freshman forward Jon Puskar (Grosse Ile, Mich.). RIT answered back when junior forward Cameron Burt (Detroit, MI) found the back at 19:25 to end the second period with the score at 3-2 AIC.

The Yellow Jackets came out in the third period and scored three goals to make the final 6-2 AIC. Senior forward Tom Mele (Bronx, N.Y.) buried a shot just 2:10 into the third to make the score 4-2. Junior Defenseman Rob Blanchette (South Boston, Mass.) earned the assist on Mele's goal.

Sophomore forward Richard Leitner (Los Alamistos, Calif.) scored on a powerplay in the 11th minute of the third. Pleskach and sophomore forward Chris Markiewicz (Calgary, Alb.) tallied the assists on Leitner's goal.

AIC ended the scoring with one minute left in the game as senior forward Greg Vatrano (East Longmeadow, Mass.) scored on an open net as the Yellow Jackets skated away with the victory.


Sophomore goaltender Ben Meisner (Halifax, N.S.) finished the game with 36 saves in earning the victory for AIC, while
senior goaltender Jan Ropponen (Espoo, Finland) had in the loss.

The Tigers outshot the Yellow Jackets 38-62.

AIC will travel to Schenectady, N.Y. to take on Union on December 10, for a 7:05 p.m. Atlantic Hockey Contest.