Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
4-11-2, 4-9-2AHA
Mercyhurst
6-4-2, 4-2-2AHA
Army Falls Just Short Against Mercyhurst
December 05, 2014 | Hockey
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WEST POINT, N.Y. - For the third-straight contest, the Army hockey team played in a one-goal game and this time it was Mercyhurst coming away with a 3-2 win over the Black Knights on Friday night at Tate Rink.
Army (4-11-2, 4-9-2 AHA) got goals from C.J. Reushlein and Joe Kozlak, while the junior captain also tallied an assist for two points. Goalie Parker Gahagen earned a spot on the scoresheet with his first collegiate point with an assist on Reuschlein's tally. Gahagen also stopped 16 saves in the game.
Mercyhurst (6-4-2, 4-2-2 AHA) was led by goaltender Jimmy Sarjeant, who made 34 stops for the Lakers. Matthew Zay had two points on the night with a goal and assist, while Ryan Misiak and Kyle Just were the other goal scorers for the visitors.
"Once again we stayed alive out there and skated until the end," head coach Brian Riley said. "Gahagen made some big saves and certainly came out and played great for us tonight. We told the guys, if you're not getting the opportunities then you have something to be concerned about. We are getting chances and hope that tomorrow night we finish those chances."
The Lakers earned the first lead of the game, scoring with 9:59 left in the opening frame. Zac Frischmon skated into the Army zone on a 3-on-2 and slipped a pass to Zay in the high slot. He wasted no time with the shot and beat Gahagen high glove side for the 1-0 lead.
Army had a great chance prior to the Mercyhurst goal as Joe Kozlak broke through traffic on a faceoff in the offensive zone. The puck followed him behind the defense and he found himself 1-on-1 with Sarjeant. He made a great move, making Sarjeant scramble, but his shot slipped underneath the netminder and out the opposite side and just wide of the post.
Mercyhurst increased the lead to 2-0 with Misiak firing a slap shot from the high slot as a power play expired. The Lakers worked the puck around the perimeter and Misiak let one go as Army stepped out of the penalty box. The puck rang off the iron and in for the two-goal advantage.
The Black Knights cut the lead in half with 2:37 remaining in the middle frame with a power play goal. Reuschlein scored his third of the season after great passing on a 3-on-2 rush up ice. Kozlak started the rush and did a great job waiting for Reuschlein to join the play. He dropped the puck back to the sophomore and he roofed a wrister past Sarjeant to make it 2-1 going into the second intermission.
The Lakers extend their lead back to two goals with 3:38 left in the game as Just scored with assists to Jonathan Charbonneau and Zay to make it 3-1.
Army responded with less than a minute remaining to cut the lead to one at 3-2. Kozlak tipped home a rocket by Mike Preston from the outside with the extra attacker on the ice. Gahagen was pulled with around a minute remaining for the extra man. Andy Faust found Preston at the top of the slot for the shot that was tipped in by Kozlak. The comeback fell short, however, as Mercyhurst was able to gain control of the faceoff and didn't allow another opportunity from the Black Knights.
Army had a commanding lead in the shot column with a 36-19 advantage. The Black Knights held the Lakers off the board on six penalty chances, while Army went 1-for-5 on the power play.
Army returns to Tate Rink tomorrow night to take on the Lakers for another 7:05 p.m. faceoff. Tickets are still available and can be purchased one hour prior to game time at the Holleder Center outside Tate Rink.
Ice Shavings: The was the third meeting of the season and 47th overall between Army and Mercyhurst since the first meeting in 2000 ... series currently sits at 34-9-4 in favor of Mercyhurst ... Lakers rookie Jack Riley, son of head coach Brian Riley, played at Tate Rink as a visitor for the first time and did not get on the scoresheet ... Army hosted its annual Teddy Bear Toss during the first intermission with all the teddy bears and donations going to Toys for Tots ... Gahagen became the first goaltender to record a point since Rob Tadazak added a helper against Sacred Heart in November of 2011.
