Box Score

The American International College men's ice hockey team (8-26-3, 6-18-3 AHA) came back from a 3-0 deficit in the third period, but could not win their Atlantic Hockey Association Championship Tournament First Round matchup with the Robert Morris Colonials (17-15-5, 13-9-5 AHA), falling by a final score of 4-3 in OT to end their season.

The Colonials scored the only goal of the first frame early on. A turnover in the neutral zone sent sophomore left wing Colin South (Sewickley, PA) in ahead, and he fired a shot from the near side end line that snuck through the pads of junior goalkeeper Ben Meisner (Halifax, N.S.) at the 2:36 mark. The goal, which was assisted by senior defenseman James Lyle (Nepean, ON), was South's ninth of the year. The Colonials would later put another puck into the net late in the period, but the goal was immediately waved off due to RMU having a man in the crease.

The Colonials extended the lead to 2-0 midway through the second as senior right wing Nick Chiavetta (Harrisburg, PA) slapped home a one-timer on a power play for his tenth of the season at 8:01 of the frame. The goal was assisted by freshman center Scott Jacklin (Kimberley, B.C.) and senior left wing Trevor Lewis (Lititz, PA).

RMU added a third goal in the final frame of regulation, with Jacklin blasting home another power play goal, his ninth of the year, with Chiavetta and Lewis picking up the helpers on the goal at 3:34 of the period.

AIC then got on the board as senior center Nielsson Arcibal (Vista, CA) fired a one-timer off the far post behind senior goalkeeper Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, OH) and into the net for his eighth of the year on a pass from junior right wing Adam Pleskach (Beausejour, Man.). Senior left wing Michael Penny (Calgary, AB) got the second assist on the goal at the 5:55 mark of the period. The Yellow jackets captain would then score again, taking the puck to the net himself on a three-on-two rush and sliding it under Ostergard to make the score 3-2 at the 11:39 mark of the frame.

Then, with the sixth attacker on and 19.1 seconds left, junior center Steve Mele (Bronx, N.Y.) won a critical offensive zone draw, giving the puck to junior defenseman Jeff Ceccacci (Placentia, CA), who passed it to Pleskach, who then found Arcibal in front to complete the hat trick and tie the game with just 10.3 left in regulation.

However, the Colonials would end the series with a goal at the 2:19 mark of overtime, as senior center Brandon Blandina (Centennial, CO) tipped a puck into the net past Meisner, with the assist going to senior left wing Ron Cramer (New Wilmington, PA) and junior right wing Zach Hervato (Stittsville, ON).

In goal for AIC, Meisner stopped 54 of 58 shots he faced to fall to 8-22-3 on the season with the loss, while Ostergard stopped 26 of 29? shots he faced in the victory, improving to 11-11-4.