SETTING THE SCENE: The American International College Yellow Jackets venture on another five-game road trip starting with a weekend series at Niagara University this upcoming weekend at Dywer Arena.
ABOUT AIC: The Yellow Jackets (4-13-0, 4-7-0 AHA) look to gain momentum after a come-from-behind win over the Air Force Academy on Friday and a great defensive effort both nights.
American International nets 2.4 goals-per-game, but allows opponents double that number (4.8). One of the strong points has been their penalty killing, shutting down 40 of 52 chances, while scoring 11 of their own in 54 chances.
Junior
Alexander MacMillan had himself a three-point night in the weekend opener with the Falcons, a goal and two assists increased his team-high to 17 points. MacMillan has balanced nine goals with eight assists.
Freshman
David Norris has been dishing out helpers for the Yellow Jackets all season (11), but came through late Friday, striking for his third goal of the season.
Freshman goalie
Hunter Leisner has seen his his minutes go up, starting thelast two games. Leisner has started the most of any Jacket netminder (8) with an .893 save percentage and 3.98 goals-against-average.
LAST TIME OUT: The Yellow Jackets split a weekend series with Atlantic Hockey foe Air Force, winning the opener in dramatic fashion, 4-3 (OT), before dropping a tightly contested 2-0 game the following night.
AIC has had the Falcons' number of late, posting a 2-1-1 record over the last two seasons
In the opener, MacMillan netted the game-winner 59 seconds into the extra period and assisted both goals in the rally in a three-goal third for the Yellow Jackets.
Norris, sophomore
Chris Porter, and junior defenseman
Jake Williams all lit the lamp in the third period to force overtime. Williams netted the equalizer with just 15.6 seconds remaining in regulation.
In Saturday's 2-0 loss, Leisner allowed a quick goal at 1:39 before settling down and shutting out the potent Air Force attack. The second goal was an empty netter with eight seconds remaining to seal the deal for the Falcons.
ABOUT NIAGARA: The Purple Eagles (4-11-3, 4-4-3) have spread outoffensive production, led by Ryan Rashid's 12 points on six goals and 6 assists. Mike Conderman also has struck for six goals, while assisting five other goals.
The Purple Eagles average 2.6 goals-per-game while allowing opponents 3.4. They have scored seven goals off 80 power play opportunities, but have allowed 22 PP goals on 84 chances.
Niagara has utlized two different freshman netminders, much like AIC, throughout the season. Adrian Ignagni and Jackson Teichroeb have spent similar time in net with Teichroeb seeing two more starts.
Ignagni (2-5-2) boasts a 3.20 goals-against-average, while saving 89 percent of shots faced.
Teichroeb (2-6-1) has a .895 save percentage and allows 3.31 goals a game in over 597 minutes of action.
LAST TIME THEY MET:Last season, Niagara swept the Yellow Jackets at the Olympia, but the then-nationally ranked Purple Eagles were given a run for their money by AIC, breaking a 2-2 tie late in the third to win 3-2 and then winning 3-1 with a goal at 19:59 of the third to salt the game away.
NEXT UP: AIC returns to action tomorrow night, Jan. 11 for the weekend finale with Niagara at 7:05 p.m. The Yellow Jackets end its non-conference slate when they visit the University of Masschusetts Amherst, Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the Mullins Center. Puck drops at 7 p.m.
