WALTHAM, Massachusetts The American International College ice hockey team proved the classic sports adage that "the best defense is a good offense" with three goals by defensemen in a 4-1 win over Bentley University in an Atlantic Hockey Conference matchup on Friday, January 17.

FAST FACTS:
SCORE:AIC 4, Bentley 1
RECORDS:AIC improves to 10-11-1 overall and 10-5-1-0 in the AHC; Bentley falls to 8-12-3 on the season and 6-10-2 in the AHC.
LOCATION:Bentley Arena, Waltham, Massachusetts

STATS:
Bentley:
Matt Lombardozzi: One goal
Jason Grande: Loss (0-2-0), 15 saves on 19 shots in 40:00
Fraser Kirk: No decision, five saves on five shots in 20:00

AIC:
Martin Mellberg: One goal
Patrik Demel: One goal
Parker Revering: One goal
Janis Jaks: One goal
Jake Stella: One assist
Brennan Kapcheck: One assist
Joel Kocur: One assist
Austen Long: One assist
Elijiah Barriga: One assist
Stefano Durante: Win (2-3-0), 30 saves

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Neither team managed much in the first period; both teams came up empty on one power play opportunity, and though AIC outshot Bentley 8-4 in the frame, the game remained scoreless after 20 minutes.
• Bentley's Matt Lombardozzi broke the ice in the second, striking at 7:23 on a shot in the slot to give the hosts the lead.
• That edge lasted exactly eight seconds; AIC won the ensuing faceoff and dumped the puck into Bentley's end, and Falcons goalkeeper Jason Grande swept it behind the net, but the pass came off the boards to senior Martin Mellberg, who ripped a tough-angle shot into the top of the cage for his fifth of the year at 7:31.
• The Yellow Jackets gained their first lead of the night minutes later. After junior Brennan Kapcheck fed the puck to rookie Jake Stella, the freshman made a few moves to keep possession along the boards before passing to the middle of the point for senior Patrik Demel. The defender wired a shot through a double screen set by senior Jared Pike and junior Tobias Fladeby that beat Grande for his first of the year at 8:56.
• After winning the next faceoff, AIC moved the puck out of its own end, and freshman Austen Long and senior Joel Kocur moved up the right wing. As Kocur received the return pass from Long just outside of the right circle, he spotted sophomore Parker Revering cutting through the slot and hit him for a one-timer that became Revering's second of the year at 9:16.
• Late in the period, the Yellow Jackets took a draw in the Bentley end, and sophomore center Elijiah Barriga won it to senior Janis Jaks for a one-time blast at 17:08 that was good for his second of the season.
• The third period was mostly notable for redshirt sophomore Stefano Durante, who turned aside all 12 shots he faced in that frame, preserving the 4-1 final.

SHOOT TO KILL:

• With a six-for-six night, the AIC penalty kill unit is operating at an 87.7 percent clip on the year, ninth nationally and second in Atlantic Hockey.
• Over the last 10 games played, the unit has been even stronger, allowing just three man-up goals by the opposition out of 38 tries, a 92.1 percent success rate.

DEFENDERS DOUBLE UP:

• Entering Friday's contest, AIC defensemen had accounted for three goals on the year, with Revering, Jaks, and junior Jeff Baum each striking once prior to this matchup.
• Yellow Jackets blueliners have been involved in the offense as set-up men this year the team's 41 assists from defenders ranks eighth in the nation, and Kapcheck and Demel sit in the top 25 in assists by individual defensemen nationwide.

COACH'S CORNER:

• "We were good enough to get the win but nowhere near the standard for how we need to play," head coach Eric Lang said after the game, noting that "I liked us for 40 minutes and thought we didn't play with enough focus in the third period. We will need to be far better tomorrow."

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets and Falcons conclude the two-game set on Saturday, January 18 at 4:05 p.m.

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.