WEST POINT, N.Y. – After trailing 2-1 halfway through the third period, the Army West Point hockey team rallied back to even the score, 2-2, and force overtime against Holy Cross on Friday night. With tonight’s tie, Army now rides an 11-game unbeaten streak over the Crusaders.
ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES
This was the Black Knights’ first overtime game of the season and head coach Brian Riley’s 89th of his coaching career.
Army has only lost one game this season when being outshot by opponents and is 6-1-1 in those situations.
The Black Knights trailed Holy Cross in shots 30-24.
Tonight’s effort was just the third time this season the Crusaders were held to 30 or less shots in a game.
Cole Bruns made 28 saves in tonight’s game.
Michael Wilson netted his fourth power play goal of the year. He has now scored at least one goal in eight of Army’s 11 games this season.
Dominic Franco netted the tying goal for the Black Knights for his fourth on the year and 13th of his career.
Tyler Pham added to his assist count on the year on Army’s first goal and has now produced at least one point in all but one game for the Black Knights.
Dalton MacAfee also assisted on Army’s first goal to give him double-digit points on the year on one goal and nine helpers.
Blake Box aided in Franco’s goal for the 17th point of his career in an Army sweater.
The Black Knights blocked 26 shots on the night with Joe Shecter, Alex Wilkinson and Pham totaling four each.
It was Army’s first game of the 2017-18 season donning the alternate gold uniforms.
HOW IT HAPPENED
PERIOD ONE (1-0 ARMY)
The Black Knights went on a power play four minutes into the game and were able to capitalize with an early 1-0 lead.
Pham passed the puck across the ice to Wilson who was waiting on the doorstep. He fired a shot which was saved by Paul Berrafato, but found the rebound and went over the netminder.
Holy Cross saw a glimmer of hope on a breakaway with 5:23 on the clock, but it grazed the pipe and sailed wide left.
PERIOD TWO (1-0 ARMY)
Holy Cross began the second frame on the power play, but the Black Knights were able to successfully kill it off.
Mike Preston found himself in a unique opportunity as he snagged the puck in Army’s zone and streaked up the ice for a one-on-one with Berrafato, but his shot crushed the cross bar.
PERIOD THREE (2-2)
The Crusaders scored back-to-back goals just under five minutes apart to take a 2-1 lead.
Franco evened the score with 8:37 remaining on a backhanded wraparound shot from the goal line.
He carried the puck around the ice maintaining possession before eventually making a precision shot.
OVERTIME (2-2)
In overtime, Bruns made a point-blank save 20 seconds in to keep things knotted at 4-4.
With 2:43 remaining, Nick DeCenzo took two shots, but Berrafato made the stops.
UP NEXT
The Black Knights and Crusaders will be back in action tomorrow night at Tate Rink. There will be a Skate with the Black Knights for fans.
For more information on Army hockey, please follow @ArmyWP_Hockey on Twitter and Instagram.
