WEST SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College ice hockey team held off Bentley University for a 5-2 win in Game One of the Atlantic Hockey Association Championship Tournament Quarterfinal on Friday, March 11.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: RV AIC 5, Bentley 2
Records: AIC improves to 19-12-3, while Bentley drops to 14-19-2
Location: Olympia Ice Center, West Springfield, Massachusetts

KEY STATS:
Bentley:
Dylan Pitera: One goal, one assist, +2 rating
Kohei Sato: One goal
Ethan Roswell: Five blocked shots
Evan DeBrouwer: Loss (9-8-1), 25 saves on 29 shots

AIC:
Elijiah Barriga: One goal, one assist, 11-of-19 on faceoffs
Chris Theodore: One goal, one assist, +2 rating
Justin Young: One goal, one assist, +2 rating
Brian Rigali: Two assists
Chris Van Os-Shaw: One goal
Jake Stella: One goal
Alec Calvaruso: Win (7-4-0), 25 saves

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• AIC drew a penalty during a Bentley power play, but once the Yellow Jackets went up a man, it was the Falcons who struck, as Dylan Pitera sent Kohei Sato in on a shorthanded breakaway for the game's first goal at 8:33.
• The hosts did convert the man advantage to tie things up. Blake Bennett found Luis Lindner at the middle of the point, and the rookie defender's shot was tipped into the net at 9:44 by Elijiah Barriga for his eighth of the season.
• The Yellow Jackets took their first lead of the game late in the period. A slapshot by Nico Somerville was blocked down in front, but Justin Young was able to find the rebound in the slot to set Chris Theodore for his 10th of the season at 16:22.
• Bentley tied the game early in the second. Pitera swiped the puck in the right circle and roofed it at 2:37.
• The game seemed destined to head to the third even, but a late penalty on Bentley gave AIC an opportunity and they capitalized. Chris Dodero's shot from the point was saved, and Brian Rigali took a whack as well, before ultimately the puck was shot home from the right side at 18:14 by Jake Stella, who notched his 11th of the season.
• Alec Calvaruso came up clutch early in the third, making several key saves on an early Bentley power play to preserve AIC's lead.
• The Yellow Jackets finally extended the lead to two in the middle of the period, as end-to-end action allowed Luka Maver to spring Chris Van Os-Shaw and Rigali on a two-on-one. Van Os-Shaw found Rigali on the right side of the blue line with a pass and drove to the net, where he tipped home Rigali's return feed at 12:14 for his seventh of the season.
• Bentley pulled Evan DeBrouwer for an extra skater, but AIC added another goal on the empty net, as Barriga and Theodore earned assists on Young's 11th of the year at 18:10 to seal the win.

LOGJAM AT THE TOP:

• With their goals tonight, Young and Stella tied Bennett and Rigali for the team's lead with 11 goals each.
• Theodore joined Dodero with 10 tallies on the season, giving AIC six double-digit goal scorers.
• Theodore also tied Galambos with 18 assists on the campaign.
• Stella matched Rigali and Theodore with three game-winning goals for AIC.

NEXT UP:

• AIC will go for the win in the series on Saturday, March 12 at 7:05 p.m. against the Falcons at the Olympia Ice Center.
• Tickets are available at https://aic-athletics.square.site/.