NEVILLE ISLAND, Pennsylvania The American International College ice hockey team earned a critical 4-3 Atlantic Hockey Conference win at Robert Morris University on Friday, January 24.

FAST FACTS:
SCORE:AIC 4, Robert Morris 3
RECORDS:AIC improves to 12-11-1 overall and 12-5-1-0 in the AHC; Robert Morris falls to 9-11-3 on the season and 9-7-3-1 in league action.
LOCATION:RMU Island Sports Center, Neville Island, Pennsylvania

STATS:
RMU:
Michael Coyne: One goal
Justin Addamo: One goal
Santeri Hartikainen: One goal
Justin Kapelmaster: Loss (9-9-2), 27 saves on 31 shots in 35:29
Dyllan Lubbesmeyer: No decision, eight saves in 22:43

AIC:
Elijiah Barriga: Three assists
Blake Christensen: One goal, one assist
Nicolas Luka: One goal
Martin Mellberg: One goal
Hugo Reinhardt: One goal
Patrik Demel: One assist
Brennan Kapcheck: One assist
Tobias Fladeby: One assist
Luka Maver: One assist
Stefano Durante: Win (4-3-0), 22 saves in 59:42

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A high pace of play in the first did not lead to much scoring until late in the frame; senior Patrik Demel sprung classmate Martin Mellberg and sophomore Elijiah Barriga on a two-on-one, and Barriga sent the puck back to the front of the net for Mellberg to tip his sixth of the year out of the air and into the net at 14:08.
• The Colonials tied things before the end of the frame on a tip play of their own; Daniel Mantenuto's bid was deflected in by Justin Addamo at 16:53.
• Midway through the second, RMU's Nolan Schaeffer was ejected for a hit to the head and the Yellow Jackets punished the Colonials on the ensuing major power play; Barriga and redshirt sophomore Luka Maver found senior Nicolas Luka on the left wall, and the defender cut to the net before tucking his first of the year under the bar at 12:42.
• Only 24 seconds later, the lead was 3-1 for AIC as junior Brennan Kapcheck found senior Blake Christensen, who skated behind the net before feeding senior Hugo Reinhardt in front of the net for his eighth of the season on a one-timer.
• The major expired, but a subsequent penalty put the Yellow Jackets back up a man and AIC converted again; Barriga crossed the zone to junior Tobias Fladeby, and he gave the puck to Christensen in the right circle. The senior cut toward the cage and beat Justin Kapelmaster at 15:29, knocking his fellow Coral Springs, Florida native out of the game with his sixth of the year.
• The Colonials refused to roll over, and Michael Coyne cut the deficit for the home side to 4-2 at 5:38, pushing a loose puck home from the left side of the crease.
• The home team then pulled within one with just under five minutes to play as Santeri Hartikainen scored at 15:03.
• RMU pulled its goalkeeper with just under two minutes to play, but the Yellow Jackets defended well, hanging on for the 4-3 win.

SPECIAL TEAMS DO IT AGAIN:

• AIC's power play went 3-for-5, including striking twice on the major, which statistically counts as going 2-for-3; the Yellow Jackets have scored five power play goals in their last two games after scoring just six man-up goals in the previous 11 games.
• On the flip side, the penalty kill stayed hot; with another 2-for-2 performance, the man-down unit has stopped 42-of-46 power plays since December 6, a 91.3 conversion rate in those 12 games, and added two shorthanded goals. That is the fifth-best penalty kill rate nationwide in that time.

KEEPING IT 100:

• Demel and Kapcheck each participated in their 100th game as members of the team.
• The duo has combined for 115 points in their 200 total games, on 21 goals and 94 assists.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets and Colonials close the doubleheader on Saturday, January 25 at 5:05 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.