Box Score--USCHO

The American International College Men's Ice Hockey Team (1-1-0, 0-0-0 AHA) had a spirited third period comeback before falling in overtime to the Penn State Nittany Lions (1-1-0, Independent) in overtime, 4-3, in front of 5389 fans at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Penn State got on the board first, as freshman center David Glen (Fort Saskatchewan, AB) won a draw and flipped the puck over the head of senior goalkeeper Ben Meisner (Halifax, NS) to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead. The goal was unassisted, at the 16:11 mark of the period.

AIC would tie the game on the power play early in the second frame, as senior defenseman Jeff Ceccacci (Placentia, CA) fired a shot from the left point toward the goal that was jammed at by sophomore right wing Nathan Sliwinski (Castle Rock, CO) before freshman left wing Chris Porter (Stoufville, ON) stuffed it into the goal to tie the game at 1-1.

The Lions would strike back, however, as freshman defenseman Mark Yanis (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI) rifled a shot by Meisner to make the score 2-1 on the power play. It was also unassisted, at the 16:26 mark of the third frame.

PSU then took a 3-1 lead in the third, as a clear attempt was blocked by sophomore center and St. Louis Blues third round draft pick Max Gardiner (Deephaven, MN) who slid the puck across to freshman right wing Jonathan Milley (Gatineau, PQ), who buried a shot at the 4:07 mark. The goal came with senior right wing Adam Pleskach (Beausejour, Man.) in the penalty box.

AIC would cut the lead in half with a power play tally of their own, as Sliwinski stole the puck along the left half-wall and cut into the slot, firing a low wrist shot that hit off the post and into the net at 7:54 of the third. The goal was unassisted.

Pleskach then tied the game at 3-3 late in the frame, stealing the puck in his own end and breaking up the ice, cutting across the crease before sliding the puck under sophomore goalkeeper PJ Musico (Orange, CA) to draw even at 15:22.

However, the Nittany Lions would end the game early in overtime, as freshman left wing Curtis Loik (North Vancouver, BC) passed to freshman right wing Kenny Brooks (Las Vegas, NV), who then dished to Glen for a one-timer that beat Meisner high glove at 0:38 of overtime to give Penn State their first NCAA DI victory.

In goal, Meisner stopped 40 of 44 shots in the loss, falling to 1-1-0, while Musico stopped 32 of 35 shots to earn the win, improving to 1-0-0.

The Yellow Jackets next host the Holy Cross Crusaders in their conference and home opener at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, MA on Tuesday, October 16. The puck drops at 7:05 PM.