SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College ice hockey team earned its first win of the 2021-22 campaign in its Atlantic Hockey Association opener, overcoming 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to win 4-3 against Army West Point on Thursday, October 21.
FAST FACTS:
Final Score: AIC 4, Army West Point 3
Records: AIC improves to 1-3-0 overall and 1-0-0-0-0-0 in the AHA; Army falls to 0-5-1 with an 0-2-1-1-0-0 AHA mark
Location: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
KEY STATS:
Army West Point:
Anthony Firriolo: Two goals
Thomas Farrell: Two assists, three blocked shots
Ricky Lyle: One goal
Gavin Abric: Loss (0-3-1), 43 saves
AIC:
Santeri Hartikainen: Two assists
Brett Callahan: One goal
Hunter Johannes: One goal
Justin Young: One goal
Chris Dodero: One goal
Jake Kucharski: Win (1-3-0), 22 saves
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Yellow Jackets had complete control of the ice in the first period, and generated a significant advantage in chances as a result. However, Gavin Abric stood tall and shut down all 18 bids at the net by AIC. Army's best chance came late in the period, but Eric Butte's wrister rang the right post.
- In the second, Army flipped the game on its head, and Anthony Firriolo opened the scoring just 0:34 in, coming down the slot to rip home a rebound.
- Army's lead doubled just under four minutes later, as Ricky Lyle cut across the slot and floated a backhand shot into the cage at 4:15.
- AIC needed a break and got it, as Army was called delay of game on the next shift, and the Yellow Jackets took advantage. After his own shot was turned aside, junior Santeri Hartikainen found sophomore Brian Kramer in the slot, and Kramer's chance was redirected in front by graduate student Chris Dodero for his second of the year at 4:57.
- AIC began another strong push over the middle of the frame, and were able to tie the game up. Freshman Evan Stella started a breakout from his own end with a pass over the middle to Hartikainen, who deflected it to junior Hunter Johannes as he crossed the right side of the offensive blue line. Johannes wound up a shot from just inside the circle and beat Abric for his first of the year at 13:47.
- Army had the last laugh in the period, as the Black Knights drew a late penalty and countered AIC's comeback; John Keranen set up Firriolo for a one-timer at 19:26 that put the visitors up 3-2 going into the final 20 minutes.
- In the third, AIC came out strong, generating bunches of shots, and finally found paydirt midway through. Junior Jake Stella found sophomore Nico Somerville at the point for a shot, and though Abric denied that, he could not stop the rebound chance by graduate student Justin Young, who put his first of the year into the cage at 8:32.
- Army's situation went from bad to worse as they took a too many men on the ice penalty less than a minute after conceding the goal, and the Yellow Jackets again punished the mistake. A great keep-in by Brett Callahan at the blue line allowed the junior defender to attack the Army penalty kill, and he cut around the net before dishing to senior Chris Theodore. Theodore then gave the puck back to Callahan for a one-timer from the right point that deflected in off of an Army player to put AIC on top at 10:31; the goal was Callahan's first of the season.
- Army pressed late, drawing a penalty, but the Black Knights could not solve redshirt sophomore Jake Kucharski again, even once they pulled Abric for the sixth attacker, and the Yellow Jackets earned the three points with a 4-3 win.
NEXT UP:
- The teams take the series to West Point on Friday, October 22 for a 7:05 p.m. start.
