Army Falls to Bentley in Season Opener

Friday, December 4

Waltham, MA

5:05 PM

Army West Point

0-1-0

Bentley

1-1-0

Army West Point

Bentley

Army Falls to Bentley in Season Opener

December 04, 2020 | Hockey

Box Score

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Army West Point hockey team opened its 2020-21 campaign with a 4-2 loss to AHA rival Bentley at Bentley Arena on Friday.

Two weeks after the Black Knights' originally scheduled opening night, the team took the ice for the first time since COVID-19 caused the cancelation of the 2019-20 postseason.

"It was great to finally have the opportunity to compete in a game," Head Coach Brian Riley said. "I thought our game got better as we went along, but regardless of the score, when you get a bunch of grade-A chances you have to find a way to bury those opportunities. We had a few very good chances today that we need to capitalize on and I give a lot of credit to their goalie."

Bentley jumped in front midway through the first period on the first of two goals by junior Michael Zuffante. Army cut the deficit in half when Tucker DeYoung sent a wrist shot past Nicholas Grabko for Army's first goal of the year. After Bentley stretched the lead to three, Noah Wilson found the back of the net for his first career goal to cut it to 4-2. Haider and DeYoung added their second points of the game with assists on the play. That score would hold as Bentley closed out its first win of the season.

The Black Knights will return to Tate Rink for their home opener on Saturday against Bentley with head coach Brian Riley sitting at 199 career wins.

"The good thing about having these weekend series is you get a chance to get right back on the ice tomorrow," Riley said. "I'm looking forward to seeing our guys bounce back and take the ice at Tate Rink tomorrow night."

HIGHLIGHTS AND NOTES:

The senior DeYoung netted his first goal since 11/22/19, when Army beat RIT 2-1 at Tate Rink.
Army head coach Brian Riley's win total remains at 199 as he and the Black Knights will look for win number 200 on Saturday at West Point.
Noah Wilson's first career goal adds continues the run of success of the Wilson family in an Army uniform. His brother, Michael, netted 36 goals before graduating earlier this year. Noah recorded his first career point in January against Air Force.
Tucker DeYoung (1-1-2) and Daniel Haider (0-2-2) each recorded multi-point games to open the season.

First Period

Army got the first real chance of the contest halfway through the first, going to the power play at the 9:58 mark, but failed to break through on their first power play opportunity of the year.
Bentley got on the board first minutes later, when Zuffante found the back of the net on a two-on-one rush to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead with 5:11 remaining in the first.
The Falcons were able to kill off another penalty in the final two minutes of the period to head into the first break with the lead.
Army outshot Bentley 10-7 in the period.

Second Period

Bentley added to the lead at the 14:00 mark of the second when Zuffante connected for his second of the game.
Army struck right back when DeYoung sent a wrister through traffic for Army's first goal of the season.
Daniel Haider and Cody Fleckenstein assisted on DeYoung's sixth career goal.
Matt Clark stretched Bentley's lead to 3-1 with his first career goal 8:43 into the period.
The Falcons converted on their first power play chance off the stick of Drew Bavarro.

Third Period

The Black Knights continued to fire the puck at the net into the third but could not break through on Grabko.
Trevin Kozlowski made several big saves in the period to hold to hold Bentley at four goals.
Noah Wilson connected for his first career goal with two minutes remaining in the contest to cut Bentley's lead to 4-2.
Army outshot Bentley 15-6 in the period and will look to carry that momentum into Saturday's contest.

UP NEXT: The Black Knights will take on Bentley in their home opener at Tate Rink on Saturday at 6:05 p.m.