WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point hockey team dropped a 3-1 decision to RIT in the final game of the weekend series Saturday night at Tate Rink. The Tigers scored late in the third period to break the 1-1 tie before adding an insurance goal in the final minute of play.
ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES
Tyler Pham was Army’s lone goal scorer on Saturday night.
It was the second straight contest he netted a goal and was his third of the season. It was also his first power play goal of the year and sixth of his career.
Dalton MacAfee and Alex Wilkinson were credited with the assists.
It is the third straight game that MacAfee has notched a helper.
The defensive pair of MacAfee and Wilkinson now combine for eight points.
Cole Bruns garnered 25 saves in the game.
Army led in shots on the night, 31-28.
HOW IT HAPPENED
PERIOD ONE (1-0 RIT)
Army began the game with three quality chances on Logan Drackett.
Bruns made a crisp glove save at the 13:49 minute mark to bring the Black Knights into the first media timeout.
The Tigers scored halfway through the period to take a 1-0 lead.
PERIOD TWO (1-1 TIED)
The Black Knights garnered a power play opportunity 14 seconds into the second stanza. Army then had a 5-on-3 advantage one more second later when RIT was charged for delay of game penalty.
Army found the back of the net 35 seconds later after Wilkinson carried the puck into the zone and fed it to Pham who tapped it in to tie the game.
MacAfee was also credited with an assist.
PERIOD THREE (3-1 RIT)
Trevor Fidler had a close opportunity with 9:15 on the clock in the final period. The puck danced along the goal line, but Drackett made the diving save to preserve the 1-1 tie.
The Tigers answered back with a fairly open shot on Bruns a minute later, but the netminder snagged the puck out of the air.
RIT scored the go-ahead goal off a skate deflection of Jordan Peacock with 2:49 on the clock.
Conor Andrle had a close chance moments later, but hit the pipe.
The Tigers padded their lead with an empty net goal with 42 seconds left.
TURNING POINT
RIT’s go-ahead goal late in the third period was the difference maker in tonight’s game coming with 2:49 left on the clock.
UP NEXT
Army will be on the road at service academy rival Air Force next Friday and Saturday nights.
For more information on Army hockey, please follow @ArmyWP_Hockey on Twitter and Instagram.
