Black Knights Take Care of Mercyhurst, 5-1

Friday, February 14

Erie, PA

7:05 PM

Army West Point

16-12-2, 13-9-2AHA

Mercyhurst

5-23-1, 3-19-1AHA

Army

Mercyhurst

Black Knights Take Care of Mercyhurst, 5-1

February 14, 2020 | Hockey

Box Score

ERIE, Pa. – Fueled by a four-goal second period, the Army West Point hockey team downed Mercyhurst 5-1 Friday night.

Eleven Cadets had a hand in the 15 points totaled in the contest including three with multi-point performances.

The Black Knights earned win number 16 of the season and earned three critical points in Atlantic Hockey action. Army is now 16-12-2 with a 13-9-2 mark in league play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Lakers jumped ahead 1-0 with 17 seconds left to go in the first quarter.
Army bounced back with a season-high four goals in the second period however to take a 2-1 lead.
Eric Butte got things rolling with a power play goal assisted by Mason Krueger and Matt Berkovitz at the 2:10 mark.
Krueger carried the puck behind the net and passed it in front to Butte who fired it home from the right circle.
Just 5:34 later, Krueger scored one of his own on a wraparound to the nearside post.
Dominic Franco won the faceoff for Army and Berkovitz tipped it down to Krueger to setup the score.
The Black Knights blasted in two more in a 15 second span with less than two minutes to play in the middle stanza.
Franco started things off by putting the loose puck home with 1:38 on the clock. Thomas Farrell and Berkovitz were credited with the assists on the play.
Fifteen seconds later, Brett Abdelnour scored again for the Black Knights off an initial shot by John Keranen and a pass from Colin Bilek.
The scoring didn't end there though thanks to a third period goal from Brendan Soucie. Daniel Haider and Anthony Firriolo were also in on the play to go up 5-1.

HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Three Black Knights had multi-point performances in tonight's victory.
Berkovitz finished the game with a career-high three helpers.
It marked the third multi-assist game of his career.
Berkovitz now totals four helpers this season and 13 in his career.
In points, the junior totals five in 2019-20 and 15 in career numbers.
Krueger posted a goal and an assist in the game for his sixth-career multi-point appearance.
The junior has registered seven goals and seven assists this season and 19 in each category for career numbers.
Krueger also notched the game-winner which was his third of the season and sixth in his time in an Army sweater.
Franco returned to the score sheet with a pair of points as well.
The senior tallied his seventh score of season tonight and turned in his 12th assist. He has 18 total points on the year.
Franco inches closer to 100-career points with 42 goals, 51 assists and 93 points.
He registered his fifth multi-point game of the season and the 21st in his four-year career.
Trevin Kozlowski was impressive in net for the Black Knights making 25 saves.
It was the most by the junior since the overtime shootout victory against Air Force in early January.
Kozlowski has recorded at least 20 saves in 15 contests this year.
The four goals in the second period was the most score in a single frame all season.
BIlek's assist increased his point-streak to five games, the most by any Cadets all season long.
Abdelnour has scored in the last two competitions and he is riding a three-game scoring streak.
The Black Knights have scored five goals on three occasions this season.
It marked just the second game Army bounced back for a win after the opposing team scored first.
The Cadets are 8-5-1 on the road and are 10-6-1 when scoring on the power play.
Army recorded no penalties in the contest. It was the first time since Jan. 4, 2002 when the Black Knights and UConn played in a penalty free game.