WEST POINT, N.Y. The American International College ice hockey team dropped the opening game of a best-of-three series to Army West Point in the opening round of the Atlantic Hockey Championship this evening at Tate Rink.
Army improves to 12-13-9 on the year while AIC falls to 6-28-3.
Army had the best chance early on as junior C.J. Reuschlein (Flint, Mich.) clanked the crossbar at 4:00 before AIC nearly got on the board first as senior Chris Porter (Stouffville, Ont.) fired from the slot but junior net-minder Parker Gahagen (Buffalo, N.Y.) got the shoulder on it and he slammed the pad down on sophomore Jackson Dudley's (Edmonton, Alb.) rebound bid on the doorstep at 11:35 keeping the game scoreless.
However, immediately following an unsuccessful power-play, West Point broke the scoreless game as it was freshman Ian Mansfield (Lakewood, Colo.) scoring his first collegiate goal at 14:45 for the 1-0 edge.
The Jackets then had a late man-advantage of their own and freshman Shawn McBride (Victoria, B.C.) let rip from the slot and again it was Dudley just outside the crease with the rebound bid, but Gahagen stood tall to preserve the lead heading into the first intermission.
Mansfield then padded the score in the second period as he sent a pass through the slot that deflected off an AIC defenseman and past sophomore Alex Murray (Burlington, Ont.) for the 2-0 lead at 6:02 of the frame.
The Black Knights collected another score as a bouncing puck trickled five-hole at 14:48 and the goal was credited to senior Josh Roberts (Southport, Conn.) for the 3-0 lead after two periods of action.
Army kept the momentum coming out in the third period and scored two goals in just 32 seconds as sophomore Tyler Pham (Fort Collins, Colo.) slapped one home after a scrum out front and senior Shane Hearn (Auburn, Maine) fired one on net the hoped over Murray's shoulder for the 5-0 margin at 2:53.
Murray stopped 25 pucks and fell to 6-22-3 on the year while Gahagen made 31 saves to improve to 11-9-9 overall. The Jackets held the slim 31-30 edge in shots on goal while neither team converted on the power-play going a combined 0-for-10.
Both teams resume the series tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. where a win will send Army to Holy Cross next weekend, but AIC looks to force a third and deciding game on Sunday right back at Tate Rink at 7:05 p.m.
