WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army hockey team exploded for five goals in the second period and cruised to a 5-1 win over American International on Senior Night at Tate Rink.
Army (8-20-4, 8-15-4 AHA) was led by Brendan McGuire, who recorded a career-high three points on two goals and an assist, while C.J. Reuschlein and Tyler Pham tallied two points with a goal and an assist each. Joe Kozlak was the other goal scorer for the Black Knights in the big second frame. Parker Gahagen stopped 34 shots in the win with double-digit stops in all three frames.
“Senior night is such a special night,” head coach Brian Riley said. “It’s so great to have it end on a good note. Since we’ve come back from holidays we have been finding a way to get points. Last year it was up to chance and this year we made it happen and we are ready to take on Sacred Heart.”
Army has locked up the ninth seed in the upcoming Atlantic Hockey Tournament and will travel to eighth-seeded Sacred Heart on March 6-7 with a third game if necessary on March 8. The Black Knights have earned points in four-straight weekends.
The Yellow Jackets (4-23-7, 4-17-7 AHA) got their lone goal from Matt Cassidy on a redirection in front on the power with the assists to Brandon Lubin and Johno May. Alex Murray got the start between the pipes and made 20 stops before being pulled late in the second period. Hunter Leisner came in and allowed one goal on 16 shots.
The first period finished scoreless with the Yellow Jackets getting a slim 13-12 shot advantage in a quick moving frame. Pham had the best chance for the Black Knights with a shorthanded chance, but Murray stuck out the left pad. Reuschlein had a good chance as well, collecting the puck in front, but sent a backhander wide.
The Black Knights exploded for five goals in the second period with two coming from McGuire and he added an assist for three points. He got the period started with his sixth of the year with a shot from the right circle that Murray tried to glove down, but couldn’t squeeze it as the puck fluttered into the net for the 1-0 Army lead. Kozlak added to the lead with his seventh of the year coming less than two minutes later.
The lead ballooned to 4-0 with Pham scoring his ninth on another shot that Murray looked to have caught with the glove, but it trickled past the line. McGuire followed up two minutes later with his second tally of the evening and it’s a four-goal advantage for the Black Knights.
Reuschlein capped the period by joining Pham with his ninth of the season as well. Pham assisted on the goal, as well as Ryan Nick and Army led 5-0 going into the final break of the game.
American International cut the lead to four goals at 5-1 with eight minutes left as Cassidy tipped home his seventh. The goal came on the power play and was a nice redirection off a shot from Brandon Lubin.
Army outshot the Yellow Jackets, 40-35, in the game. With all the scoring, Army couldn’t manage a power play goal in three chances, while AIC got one in four opportunities.
Ice Shavings: The Black Knights honored their six seniors prior to the game, including managers Rob Tadazak and Tyler Bonfe … This was the 87th meeting between Army and AIC … Army leads the series 58-23-6 and is ahead at West Point at 42-11-4 … the five-goal second period was the most goals in a frame this season … first time since Jan. 4, 2013 that Army had five unanswered goals in a game and that was against No. 19 Robert Morris in a 5-0 win … the four-goal margin of victory was the highest for the Black Knights this season … McGuire joins Kozlak and Pham with multi-goal games this season … the Class of 2018 finished the 2014-15 regular season with 26 points as a group on 13 goals and 13 assists.
