SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts The No. 19 American International College ice hockey team capped a perfect week by upending the College of the Holy Cross 3-0 in Atlantic Hockey Conference play on Saturday, January 30.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: No. 19 AIC 3, Holy Cross 0
Records: AIC improves to 13-3-0 on the year and 10-1-1-1 in the AHC; Holy Cross drops to 4-10-0 overall and 1-7-2-2 in AHC action.
Location: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts

STATS LEADERS:
Holy Cross:
Erik Gordon: Loss (4-7-0), 31 saves

AIC:
Darwin Lakoduk: One goal
Julius Janhonen: One goal
Elijiah Barriga: One goal
Ryan McInchak: Win (1-0-0), shutout (1), 20 saves in 59:33

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The first period was fairly sleepy as neither team generated many chances; Erik Gordon and freshman Ryan McInchak each faced six shots and stopped them all, mostly without significant effort.
• In the second, AIC broke the deadlock on a delayed penalty, as senior Brennan Kapcheck slid the puck down the left side to classmate Jeff Baum, who in turn found rookie Darwin Lakoduk, the extra attacker, cutting to the cage for his first collegiate goal at 7:57.
• The Yellow Jackets converted the power play as well, as freshman Julius Janhonen won a draw back to sophomore Brett Callahan, who fired on goal; the initial shot was stopped by Gordon, but senior Chris Dodero nudged the puck to Janhonen, who drove in and slammed home his third of the year at 9:07.
• Another penalty late in the period gave AIC a chance to extend its edge and the Yellow Jackets capitalized, as senior Justin Young found redshirt junior Justin Cole on the right side of the ice, and Gordon could not squeeze the pads on Cole's shot, allowing junior Elijiah Barriga to push the rebound five-hole at 19:49 for his fifth of the campaign.
• From there, McInchak and the defense took over, as AIC held the Crusaders to just seven shots in the third and earned the 3-0 final.

MC-WIN-CHAK:

• The rookie goalkeeper, who came on in relief of redshirt freshman Jake Kucharski in the previous night's win, has stopped all 37 shots he has faced so far in his collegiate career.
• He is the first goalkeeper to earn a shutout in his first start in the Division I era of program history.
• Between Kucharski and McInchak, AIC has blanked the Crusaders in all three games between the squads this season; the shutout streak actually goes back to 2019-20 as Zackarias Skog '20 kept the Crusaders off the board in the home finale on February 22, 2020.

DARWIN-NING GOAL:

• Lakoduk's first goal was ultimately the deciding one for the team.
• It is the second time this season that a rookie's first goal has been the winning tally; freshman Jan Kern's goal at Army West Point on January 6 decided a 6-3 contest.
• Lakoduk's tally is the second AIC has scored on a delayed penalty; Janhonen's winner against the Crusaders on January 17 was also scored with a delayed penalty in the 1-0 victory.

A WEEK OF DOMINATION:

• AIC outscored Sacred Heart and Holy Cross by a combined 17-2 in the three games.
• The Yellow Jackets outshot their opposition 115-55 and did not concede more than 20 shots in any game.
• The Yellow Jackets went 5-of-17 on the power play and 8-of-9 on the penalty kill.
• Kapcheck had a six-point week with six helpers to go with a +7 rating, while Dodero, Cole, and Janhonen all recorded five points on the week; a total of nine Yellow Jackets notched three or more points between the three contests.

NEXT UP:

• AIC visits Army West Point for the fifth and final regular season meeting on February 4 at 7:05 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED:

• For more updates about the AIC ice hockey team, follow @AIC_Hockey on Twitter and Instagram, and likeAmerican International College Ice HockeyonFacebook. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow@AICAthleticson Twitter and Instagram, and likeAIC Yellow JacketsonFacebook.