Box Score

WALTHAM, Mass. – The American International College men's ice hockey team skated to a 5-1 victory at Bentley University on Saturday night in an Atlantic Hockey contest. The Yellow Jackets improve to 7-18-1 overall and 7-15-1 in Atlantic Hockey, while the win improves the Falcons record to 9-15-5 overall and 8-11-4 in conference play.

Senior Defenseman Mike Little (Enfield, Conn.) gave AIC the early 1-0 lead 13:55 into the first. Senior forward Tom Mele (Bronx, N.Y.) and freshman forward Nick Campanale (Chester Springs, Pa.). Bentley tied the game at 1-1 at 19:48 to end the first period when senior forward Erik Peterson (Shorewood, Minn.) found the back of the net for the Falcons only goal of the night.

Senior forward Steve McLeod (Atikokan, Ont.) scored 1:21 to start off the second period, the only goal AIC would need to take the victory. Earning the assits on McLeod's goal are freshman forward Blake Peake (Lethbridge, Alb.) and sophomore defenseman Chris Mackiewicz (Calgary, Alb.).

The Yellow Jackets scored three more goals to make it a 5-1 victory. Freshman forward Jon Puskar (Grosse Ile, Mich.), freshman forward Steve Mele (Bronx, N.Y.) and McLeod scored the last three goals for AIC.

Freshman goaltender Ryan Kerpan (Saskatoon, Sask.) made 28 saves to earn his first collegiate victory as a Yellow Jacket, freshman goalie Branden Komm (Williamsville, N.Y.) 11 saves in 28:37 in the loss for the Falcons before being replaced by Kyle Rank (Islip, N.Y.) stopped 11 in 31:23 minutes.

Falcons outshot AIC 29-27.

AIC will travel to West Point, N.Y. for a Atlantic Hockey contest against Army, while finishing the weekend series in East Hartford, Conn. at Rentschler Field for the Yellow Jackets first outside contest a 1:05 p.m. outside contest.