WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army hockey team streaked out to a three-goal advantage after the first period and cruised to a 4-0 win over American International to claim the first-round Atlantic Hockey Tournament series on Sunday evening.
The Black Knights (13-14-9) were led by Taylor Maruya and Conor Andrle with two points apiece on a goal and an assist. Christian Pomarico gave Army the start it needed with his first goal of the season and Joe Kozlak sealed the win with the fourth goal of the night.
Parker Gahagen stopped all 19 Yellow Jacket shots to earn his second shutout of the weekend and third of his career.
American International (7-29-3) ends its season with a hard-fought series against the Black Knights. The two teams combined for three penalties and the Yellow Jackets did not have a power play all night long.
Army took the first lead of the game just 1:36 into the first period with Pomarico scoring from the slot. Andrle and Pham did some work along the boards and got the puck out to the defenseman and he scored his first of the season to make it 1-0 lead.
Maruya put the Black Knights up by two goals with 4:21 remaining in the opening frame. He took advantage of an American International turnover in the offensive zone. Clint Carlisle got the puck in the corner and slid the puck up to Maruya. He delayed for a moment and beat Murray with a wrister to give the Black Knights the 2-0 lead.
The lead increased to 3-0 moments later as Andrle made a diving play on a breakaway. The goal came 23 seconds after Maruya’s tally. Pham spotted Andrle skating through the neutral zone and got the puck to him. Andrle played the puck ahead of his defender and fell to the ice with one hand on his stick and somehow got to it before Murray. He chipped the puck over his shoulder for the 3-0 advantage.
After a scoreless second period and most of the third frame, Kozlak closed out the scoring with his fifth of the season with 1:59 on the clock. Maruya and Carlisle were given assists on the play and Army earned the 4-0 win and its first series victory since 2009.
The Black Knights head to the Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinals next weekend with a visit to Holy Cross. Army played the Crusaders twice this season and earned three league points out of a possible four.
