WEST POINT, N.Y. – Massachusetts scored 22 seconds into overtime to defeat the Army hockey team, 2-1, at Tate Rink on Saturday night.
Army (5-9-4) took the early lead in the first period with a power play goal from Joe Kozlak. Conor Andrle added his team-leading 11th assist of the season, while Mike Preston added the secondary helper. Cole Bruns earned his fourth start in net and was impressive with 33 saves, including 15 in the second period.
The Minutemen (7-8-4) saw Steven Iacobellis score the gamewinner in the extra frame with Ray Pigozzi and Shane Walsh adding the assists. Walsh finished with a two-point night as he tallied his 13th of the season in the second period to tie the game at 1-1. Alex Wakaluk made 22 saves in the win, which was the first of the season for the junior netminder.
The Black Knights earned the first goal of the night with Kozlak scoring his fourth of the season. The tally came with one second left on Army’s first power play. He fired the initial shot wide of the net, but Andrle controlled the rebound and found the co-captain in the lost and he buried it for the 1-0 advantage going into the first intermission. Mike Preston was given an assist on the play for his fourth of the season.
The Minutemen evened the score with the lone goal in the second period with Shane Walsh tallying his 13th of the season. The goal came on the power play as Dominic Trento found Walsh in the slot and he beat Bruns to make it 1-1 game.
After a scoreless third period, the teams headed to the extra frame and it didn’t take long for the Minutemen to escape with the win. Pigozzi charged the net and put the initial shot on Bruns and he made the stop, but the puck popped out to an open Iacobellis and he buried it for the gamewinner.
Massachusetts earned a 35-23 shot advantage in the game. Army had five chances on the power play and scored once, while UMass was 1-for-2 with the extra skater.
The Black Knights return to Tate Rink next Friday night to take on Sacred Heart, before traveling to Connecticut to face off on Saturday night against the Pioneers. Both games are set for 7:05 p.m. puck drops.
Ice Shavings: This was the 30th meeting all-time between UMass and Army … it was Army’s fourth game against the Hockey East Association and last non-conference game … tonight was the first matchup since 2010 when the Black Knights won at Amherst by a 5-2 score … Army has now scored on the power play in 13-of-18 games this season … the Black Knights scored first for the seventh time this year … Army is now 0-3-4 in overtime games … Bruns got his fourth start of the season … Black Knights conclude their non-conference schedule with a 2-2-0 mark with wins over UConn and Merrimack.
