HANOVER, N.H. The American International College men's ice hockey team dropped a hard fought 3-2 non-conference decision to Dartmouth College this afternoon at Thompson Arena.
AIC falls to 2-9-2 on the season while Dartmouth improves to 3-3-1.
The Big Green controlled puck possession most of the first period starting with the opening face-off and were able to convert a neutral zone turnover into an early 1-0 lead.
Senior Eric Robinson (Foxboro, Mass.) was the beneficiary of a 2-on-1, give-and-go play with junior Brad Schierhorn (Anchorage, Alaska) and finished glove side at 8:19 of the first period to open the scoring.
Senior Tyler Sikura (Aurora, Ont.) then pushed the lead to a pair with his quick wrister from the left dot that beat freshman Alex Murray (Burlington, Ont.) and was again set up by Schierhorn at 12:02.
The Jackets came right back, however, to cut the deficit in half as junior Austin Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) received a pass from senior Alexander MacMillian (Calgary, Alb.) at the right dot and found the back of the net for the 2-1 score at 14:48. Junior Derek Henderson (Smithfield, R.I.) also had an assist on the play.
AIC used that momentum into the second period as the teams skated more evenly during the middle frame with each squad registering seven shots on goal and killing off a pair of power play chances.
American International had a great bid at the 7:00 minute mark when freshman Johno May (Mahtomedi, Minn.) sent a puck on net, but Dartmouth junior goaltender James Kruger (Minnetonka, Minn.) got the pad down to keep the puck from crossing the line and preserve the 2-1 lead.
The Big Green then had a chance with the man advantage as junior Ryan Bullock (Eden Prairie, Minn.) let one go from the blue line that was redirected in front and found Murray's chest at 11:31 as the freshman went on to make three huge stops during the penalty kill.
After a boarding call gave AIC the mad advantage, Orszulak nearly potted the equalizer, but his blast was turned aside by Kruger and the teams skated into the locker rooms the same way they came onto the ice with the Big Green holding onto a 2-1 lead.
Coming onto the ice for the final frame, Dartmouth again controlled possession and registered numerous scoring chances as senior Jesse Beamish (Mississauga, Ont.) rang the pipe at 2:48 which was sandwiched in between a pair of tremendous stops by Murray on shots from freshman Tim Shoup (St. Clair, Pa.) keeping it a one-goal contest.
Murray continued to stand tall between the pipes as he stuffed Robinson who flew down the slot at 8:38 and recorded back-to-back saves on sophomore Grant Opperman (Wayzata, Minn.) at 10:04 of the third period.
The Big Green continued to pressure and were finally rewarded when senior Eric Neiley (Warminster, Pa.) held off a defender and slipped on five-hole at 12:19 for the 3-1 cushion.
Neiley then had an incredible chance at adding even more insurance after coming out of the box at 18:33, but his breakaway bid to go high glove was snared by Murray giving the Jackets a chance at a late comeback.
After a timeout by the Yellow Jackets head coach Gary Wright opted for the empty net over the final 1:27.
MacMillian then gained possession in the offensive zone and sent the puck off the skirt of the net where junior Chris Porter (Stoufville, Ont.) sent one in front to freshman Andrew DeBrincat (Farmington Hills, Mich.) who continued the play on to sophomore David Norris (Calgary, Alb.) in front of the net who backhanded it into the top right corner to give AIC life at 19:38 with the 3-2 score.
However, that would be as close as it got as American International was unable to grab the equalizer as the final horn sounded.
Murray made 34 saves for the game and fell to 2-5-2 on the season while his counterpart, Kruger, stopped 15 pucks and improved to 3-3-1.
Dartmouth outshot the visitors 37-17 and each team was 0-for-3 with the extra skater.
AIC returns to action as they travel to Buffalo to battle conference foe Canisius in a weekend set starting next Friday at 7:05 p.m.
