Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
4-13-2, 4-11-2AHA
American International
3-12-4, 3-6-4AHA
Hockey Falls in Overtime to AIC
January 02, 2015 | Hockey
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WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army hockey team started the new year on Friday night and American International spoiled the beginning of 2015 with an overtime 3-2 win after scoring 18 seconds into the extra frame.
The Black Knights (4-13-2, 4-11-2 AHA) got goals from C.J. Reuschlein and Nick DeCenzo in the defeat. DeCenzo scored his first collegiate goal, while Reuschlein added his fourth of the year. Parker Gahagen earned the start in net and made 28 saves.
American International (3-12-4, 3-6-4 AHA) saw Austin Orszulak tally three points on two goals and an assist in the win, while Johno May picked up two points on a goal and an assist. Alex McMillan chipped in with two assists. Hunter Leisner recorded his first win of the season with 43 saves between the pipes, including 19 in the third period.
Army took the early lead with Resuchlein scoring his fourth of the season with 9:21 remaining in the opening frame. He fired his initial shot that was blocked, but collected the rebound in the slot and beat Leisner for the 1-0 lead.
American International evened the score with a 5-on-3 power play tally from Orszulak.The Yellow Jackets moved the puck around the perimeter and Orszulak ended up with it at the high slot and got his shot past Gahagen on the left side to tie the game at 1-1.
The Black Knights dominated during parts of the opening frame and finished with a 12-8 advantage in shots, which was at 8-1 in favor of the home team at one point in the period.
The momentum continued to stay on Army's side throughout the second period and it paid off late in the frame. Clint Carlisle fired a shot that Leisner stopped, but DeCenzo followed it up to jam home the rebound on the left side for the 2-1 lead with 7:32 remaining in the middle stanza. Ryan Nick was given an assist on the play.
The Yellow Jackets came back to tie it for the second time in the game with 8:24 left in regulation. May took the puck behind the net and came out to the left circle and was left all alone. He roofed a shot over the shoulder of Gahagen to tie the game at 2-2.
Army earned a power play late in the game and Maurice Alvarez had the best chance as he ripped a shot off the crossbar. The Black Knights went scoreless on the power play and the game headed for overtime.
It didn't take long for the game to end, however, as AIC scored 18 seconds into the extra frame to earn the 3-2 win. It was the second of the night for Orszulak and 13th of the year. The assists went to MacMillan and May.
The two teams are back in action tomorrow night in Springfield, Mass., in the second half of the home-and-home series. The faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m. at Olympia Ice Center.
Ice Shavings: This was the 85th meeting between AIC and Army since the first meeting back in 1954 ... Air Force and RIT are the only other conference members the Black Knights have yet to play this season ... Parker Gagahen has now started 29 games in a Black Knight uniform ... the 45 shots on net by Army was a season high ... Army leads the series 57-22-6, but AIC has won the last three meetings.
