WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Freshman Marc Dubeau (St. Lina, Alb.) scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give American International College the, 3-2, victory with their second-straight extra time decision to sweep Army West Point in Atlantic Hockey Conference action this afternoon from the Olympia Ice Center.
AIC improves to 4-13-0 on the season and 4-8 in conference play while the Black Knights fall to 4-8-4 overall and 3-7-4 in Atlantic Hockey action.
This also marks the first-time since the 2009-10 season that American International has swept a weekend series at home. They defeated Bentley 6-5 and 3-2 on February 5-6, 2010.
The Jackets used three power-play goals en route to victory this afternoon as they converted at a 50 percent clip (3-for-6) with the man-advantage.
"There are nights that the power-play produces and there are nights where it doesn't, but our overall body of work preaches on our power-play being strong and it came up pretty huge tonight" commented head coach Gary Wright following the game.
"We hadn't had a game in ten days so we actually had one practice this week where we dedicated almost an entire hour to just the power-play" mentioned alternate captain Austin Orszulak. "Special teams can win you games and it was proved tonight so that is huge for us" concluded Orszulak.
The Springfield product was a beneficiary to that special team unit as he turned in a three point effort with a pair of assists and a goal this afternoon.
Tied again at one goal apiece following the second period Army grabbed the lead as junior Clint Carlisle (Dallas, Tx.) lit the lamp at 13:33 for the 2-1 advantage.
The game looked like it was going to end with that same score until a cross-checking penalty gave the Yellow Jackets a power-play with under a minute to play and as they opted for the empty net they skated 6-on-4.
This gave AIC some open space to find players and freshman Trevor Cope (White Lake, Mich.) took advantage as he received the puck at the left point and skated into the slot to fire a wrist shot that deflected off a defender and into the back of the net to tie the contest at 2-2 with just 35 seconds remaining in regulation.
So, for the second straight night we had bonus hockey and Orszulak was nearly the hero again as he fired a shot that was knocked down in front, but Dubeau found himself in the right place at the right time and cashed in on the doorstep for the 3-2 victory at 3:11 of the overtime frame.
"It was just a very fortunate play" stated Dubeau. "It bounced out right on my stick, the goalie had no idea where it was and I just chipped it up top."
The Jackets were once again outshot 30-27, but used special teams to their advantage going 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and as mentioned above 3-for-6 with the man-advantage.
Sophomore Alex Murray (Burlington, Ont.) stopped 28 shots to improve to 4-8 on the year while his counterpart, junior Parker Gahagen (Buffalo, N.Y.), made 24 saves while falling to 4-5-4 overall.
West Point opened the scoring late in the opening period after a neutral zone turnover by the Yellow Jackets it was sophomore Conor Andrle (St. Louis Park, Md.) setting up freshman Taylor Maruya (Westchester, Calif.) for a nifty back-hand shot from the right post for the 1-0 edge at 17:44.
AIC flipped things in the middle frame as they turned up the pressure and generated multiple scoring chances before eventually tying the game on the power-play.
Just 24 seconds into a slashing call against the Black Knights, Cope swung the puck behind the net to classmate Shawn McBride (Victoria, B.C.) who found junior Austin Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) skating through the slot and the alternate captain sent a one-timer to the far post for the equalizer at 17:22 of the second.
American International will now have three weeks off for Christmas break before resuming play on January 2-3 as they resume their five-game home stand by welcoming the Canisius College Golden Griffins for a weekend set.
