BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut A late goal by Marc Johnstone was the difference as Sacred Heart University ended the 11-game winning streak of the American International College ice hockey team with a 5-3 Atlantic Hockey Conference win on Wednesday, February 26.

FAST FACTS:
SCORE:RV Sacred Heart 5, No. 20 AIC 3
RECORDS:AIC drops to 20-12-1 overall and 20-6-1-0 in the AHC; Sacred Heart improves to 21-10-3 overall and 18-8-2-0 in league play.
LOCATION:Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Connecticut

STATS:
Sacred Heart:
Matt Tugnutt: One goal, two assists
Marc Johnstone: Two goals
Austin McIlmurray: Two assists
Jason Cotton: Two assists
Jeppe Urup: Two assists
Michael Gilroy: One goal
Braeden Tuck: One goal
Josh Benson: Win (20-10-3), 24 saves

AIC:
Martin Mellberg: Two assists
Joel Kocur: One goal
Elijiah Barriga: One goal
Hugo Reinhardt: One goal
Brennan Kapcheck: One assist
Tobias Fladeby: One assist
Blake Christensen: One assist
Stefano Durante: Loss (11-4-0), 21 saves on 25 shots in 59:19

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Sacred Heart opened the scoring as Matt Tugnutt was able to bang a loose puck home at 9:14.
• Sacred Heart's lead was extremely short-lived; Jason Cotton took a penalty only 14 seconds after setting up Tugnutt's goal, and the Yellow Jackets were able to convert as senior Martin Mellberg's pass back to the point was one-timed by senior Blake Christensen and tipped in by senior Hugo Reinhardt for his 13th of the season at 10:23.
• The Pioneers regained the lead on a delayed penalty, as Marc Johnstone jammed in a rebound at 14:52. AIC was able to kill the penalty to prevent the lead from growing.
• AIC drew another penalty and came close to converting as senior Patrik Demel hit the post with a shot and senior Kyle Stephan narrowly missed an open side just after the penalty expired, but the score remained 2-1 after one.
• In the second, the Pioneers notched their third of the game as Michael Gilroy snuck a shot through a screen from the point at 2:02.
• Both teams had power plays that did not convert through the middle of the frame; redshirt sophomore Stefano Durante made a save on a shorthanded breakaway by Evan Wisocky to keep AIC within two.
• Late in the frame, junior Brennan Kapcheck knocked a puck free to classmate Tobias Fladeby, who was able to get it in turn to senior Joel Kocur, who beat a defender and then Sacred Heart's Josh Benson at 17:25 for his eighth of the year.
• AIC tied the game right out of the gate in the third, as Mellberg set up sophomore Elijiah Barriga for his 10th of the campaign at 2:04.
• The Pioneers regained the lead late, as Johnstone backhanded home his second of the game at 17:42. Braden Tuck added an empty-net goal at 18:45 to seal the 5-3 final.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets finish the regular season with a tilt at Tate Rink on the Army West Point campus against the Black Knights on Saturday, February 29, with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop scheduled.

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.