SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts The American International College ice hockey team battled back to earn a 4-3 win over Mercyhurst University in Atlantic Hockey Conference play at the MassMutual Center on Friday, January 31.

FAST FACTS:
SCORE:AIC 4, Mercyhurst 3
RECORDS:AIC improves to 14-11-1 overall and 14-5-1-0 in the AHC; Mercyhurst drops to 5-19-1 on the season and 3-15-1 in the AHC.
LOCATION:MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts

STATS:
Mercyhurst:
James Anderson: Two assists
Dalton Hunter: One goal
Cade Townend: One goal
Jonathan Bendorf: One goal
Garrett Metcalf: Loss (4-12-1), 38 saves in 59:09

AIC:
Blake Christensen: Two goals
Brennan Kapcheck: Two assists
Patrik Demel: Two assists
Tobias Fladeby: Two assists
Hugo Reinhardt: One goal
Austen Long: One goal
Jared Pike: One assist
Parker Revering: One assist
Stefano Durante: Win (6-3-0), 14 saves

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• An early power play for the Lakers proved fruitful, as Dalton Hunter put home a goal at 3:32 of the first period.
• In the second, the Yellow Jackets pressed early and it paid off, as a failed clear saw the puck get back to the left-wing wall on the stick of junior Tobias Fladeby. He fed a pass to the point for sophomore Parker Revering, who ripped a one-timer that was saved by Lakers goalkeeper Garrett Metcalf, but the rebound bounced right to senior Blake Christensen, and he deposited his seventh of the year at the 0:43 mark.
• The Lakers were able to retake the lead on an odd play; a collision in front of redshirt sophomore Stefano Durante knocked the goalkeeper down, rendering him unable to make a play on a puck Cade Townend threw at the net that went in at 4:34 to give the Lakers a 2-1 edge.
• In the third, the Yellow Jackets once again had an early answer from Christensen; senior Patrik Demel sent an outlet pass to Christensen up the middle, and Christensen left a drop pass for Fladeby. As with the previous goal, Fladeby's shot was stopped, but Chistensen was there to put in the rebound home at 0:45 with his eighth of the season.
• AIC took the lead for the first time shortly after, as junior Brennan Kapcheck went D-to-D to Demel, and Demel's one-timer was tipped through Metcalf by senior Hugo Reinhardt for his ninth of the season at 3:58.
• The Lakers were able to even the game on the power play midway through the period, as Jonathan Bendorf tipped a Josh McDougall shot at 8:19.
• Late in the game, senior Jared Pike sent the puck around the boards to Kapcheck at the right point. Kapcheck walked in past a Lakers defender and fired a shot, and freshman Austen Long was there to put in the rebound for his first collegiate goal at 16:45, which held up for the game-winning marker in the 4-3 win.

WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT RECORDS:

• Christensen moved within a point of Adam Pleskach '13 for the most points in the Division I era of program history, as he has 113.
• Kapcheck passed Nielsson Arcibal '12 for second on the program's assists list with his second helper of the night; he has 58, second only to Christensen.
• Kapcheck reached 70 points for his career, while Demel hit 50.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets and Lakers conclude the season series on Saturday, February 1 at 1:05 p.m.
• Tickets are available at the MassMutual Center website.

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.