SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts The American International College ice hockey team once again came up just short in a comeback effort against the RIT Tigers, falling 3-2 in an Atlantic Hockey Conference matchup at the MassMutual Center on Saturday, January 12.

FAST FACTS:
SCORE:RIT 3, AIC 2
RECORDS:AIC falls to 9-11-1 overall and 9-7-1 in the AHC; RIT improves to 10-8-2 overall and 8-6-2 in league play.
LOCATION:MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts

STATS:
AIC:
Shawn McBride: Two assists
Brennan Kapcheck: One goal, one assist
Tobias Fladeby: One goal
Blake Christensen: One assist
Zackarias Skog: Loss (6-8-0), 19 saves in 59:13

RIT:
Erik Brown: Two goals, two assists
Gabe Valenzuela: Two goals
Abbott Girduckis: Two assists
Adam Brubacher: Two assists
Will Calverley: One goal
Shawn Cameron: One goal
Logan Drackett: Win (9-8-2), 30 saves in 59:52



HOW IT HAPPENED:

• AIC started with a strong first period, outshooting RIT 9-7 despite the Tigers having the only power play of the frame, but could not solve Logan Drackett.
• In the second, RIT broke the deadlock off of an offensive zone faceoff; neither team ever had control of the puck, but Kobe Walker found it at the top of the paint and backhanded home his first collegiate goal at 7:02.
• The Tigers then scored twice in rapid succession; Dan Willett's wrister from the point snuck through a screen into the top corner for his second of the year at 14:51, and shortly after on the power play, Willett found Abbott Girduckis below the goal line, who in turn set up Erik Brown on the doorstep for a one-timer and his 10th of the year at 16:33.
• Once again down three in the third, AIC battled back; on an early period power play, senior center Shawn McBride dished to sophomore defender Brennan Kapcheck; Kapcheck fired a pass off the boards behind the net that came out on the left side to a waiting sophomore right wing Tobias Fladeby, who hit the open side of the net at 5:59 for his team-best 11th of the season.
• Under two minutes later, the Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to one as McBride won a battle in his own zone to get the puck forward to junior left wing Blake Christensen, who crossed the puck to the middle of the ice for Kapcheck. Kapcheck turned the corner on a defender before cutting behind and around the net for an impressive wraparound goal, his second tally of the season, at 7:35.
• AIC then went up two men for a five-on-three power play, but the Tigers defense held the line, and held off a furious attack in the final minutes, including with the goalie pulled, to seal a 3-2 victory and sweep the season series.

STREAKS OF THE WEEK:

• In three games this week, both Kapcheck and Christensen have scored points in each contest and have collected a goal and three assists.
• The team has scored a power play goal in each of the last three games and six of the last eight.
• The Yellow Jackets have not been shut out in a game this season.

NEXT UP:

• AIC returns to Webster Bank Arena on Tuesday, January 15 for a 7:05 p.m. start against Sacred Heart.
  

STAY CONNECTED:

• For more updates about the AIC ice hockey team, follow@AIC_HockeyonTwitterandInstagram, and likeAmerican International College Ice HockeyonFacebook. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow@AICAthleticsonTwitterandInstagram, and likeAIC Yellow JacketsonFacebook.