SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts The No. 20 American International College ice hockey team won an up-tempo victory against Long Island University, taking the nonconference contest 5-2 on January 13.
FAST FACTS:
SCORE: No. 20 AIC 5, LIU 2
RECORDS: AIC improves to 9-3-0 on the season and remains 7-1-1-1 in Atlantic Hockey; LIU drops to 2-4-0, with a 2-4-0-0 record against Atlantic Hockey teams as a scheduling partner for the conference.
LOCATION: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
STATS:
LIU:
Nolan Welsh: One goal
Gustav Muller: One goal
Garrett Metcalf: Loss (2-4-0), 38 saves on 42 shots in 58:16
AIC:
Justin Cole: Two goals, one assist
Tobias Fladeby: Three assists
Julius Janhonen: One goal
Chris Theodore: One goal
Michal Stinil: One goal
Stefano Durante: Win (7-3-0), 22 saves
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- LIU found itself in a hole early as a major penalty just over three minutes in put the Sharks down a man for five minutes. They battled valiantly and nearly killed the major, but senior Tobias Fladeby set up classmate Brennan Kapcheck for a chance, and redshirt junior Justin Cole stuffed home the rebound for his fourth of the year.
- The Sharks finally generated some pressure of their own and it paid off, with Max Balinson's pass to the top of the paint being jammed home by Nolan Welsh on a second-effort play at 15:58 to tie the game at 1-1.
- In the second, AIC ramped up the pressure, especially during a power play, and though the Yellow Jackets did not convert, they continued to dominate the zone and it paid off as senior Chris Dodero handed the puck to junior Parker Revering off the bench, and Revering sped to the cage for a shot. That chance bounced to freshman Julius Janhonen, who popped home his first collegiate goal at 14:37.
- AIC's lead was short lived again as LIU mounted an attack of its own, and a puck bounced to Gustav Muller in the slot for a one-timer at 19:41 to send the teams to the break even again.
- In the third, AIC came with another push and regained the edge. Fladeby passed back to the point for sophomore Brett Callahan, and he fired a shot that bounced off the end boards and out in front on the left to redshirt sophomore Chris Theodore, who banked the puck off the back of LIU goalkeeper Garrett Metcalf for his third of the year at 4:29.
- AIC finally took a two-goal lead shortly after, as an LIU turnover to Cole at the right faceoff circle allowed him to set up freshman Michal Stinil's second of the year in the slot at 7:08.
- LIU pushed back to the end, but redshirt junior Stefano Durante did not yield in the third, and with the Sharks net empty, Fladeby knocked a puck to Cole for the empty netter, Cole's fifth of the season, at 19:40 to complete the 5-2 final.
FLADEBY ON FIRE:
- With the three assists, Fladeby now has 16 points on the season; he has nine goals and seven helpers in 12 games.
- He is tied for second in the AHC in points and leads it in goals; for the points lead, he trails only Grant Hebert of Robert Morris, who has 17 points but also has appeared in two more games.
- He is on a four-game point streak, tallying two goals and five assists for seven points in that span.
NEXT UP:
- AIC hosts the College of the Holy Cross for the first of five regular season meetings on Sunday, January 17 at 1:05 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.
