Army Splits Home Series With OT Loss to LIU

Saturday, January 16

West Point, NY

7:05 PM

Army West Point

3-5-0

LIU

3-5-0

OT 1

LIU

Army West Point

Army Splits Home Series With OT Loss to LIU

January 16, 2021 | Hockey

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y – The Army West Point hockey team fell to LIU 3-2 in overtime in the backend of a two-game series at Tate Rink on Saturday.

"This is a tough one for sure," Head Coach Brian Riley. "This is a 60-minute game, tonight it was a 65-minute game, and we didn't play well enough for the entirety of the game to win the game. We found ourselves in a position to steal one tonight and we didn't get it done."

It was a defensive affair for most of the night, as the team's remained scoreless through two periods. LIU was able to jump out in front with a pair of goals in a 90-second span by freshman Jacob Franczak. The goals were the first of his collegiate career.

The Black Knights showed their fight, as they have throughout the year, scoring a pair of power play goals to even the game at two. The second came in dramatic fashion, as it came with Army having an net empty, Anthony Firriolo fired home a wrist shot past goalie Vinnie Purpura with 59.9 seconds remaining to tie the game at 2-2.

In overtime, Army found itself on a 4-on-3 power play that was wiped away just 26 seconds later when LIU drew a penalty of their own. The Sharks were able to close out the game with 2:46 remaining in the extra period with a goal by Jordan Di Cicco.

"We hadn't been in this situation after winning the first night with a chance to turn a good weekend into a great weekend," Riley said. "We know what it's like to come into a game hungry after losing the first game and getting the win in the second game. We're definitely going to want to string some wins together moving forward and tonight was a good test."

HIGHLIGHTS AND NOTES

Goaltenders Justin Evenson and Vinnie Purprua kept the game scoreless through the first two periods of play, with Evenson making 22 saves through two periods.
With two power play goals tonight, Army has now scored eight power play goals in the past three games.
Following his hat trick on Friday, senior Mason Krueger added an assist tonight, stretching his point-streak to three games. Tonight was the 100th game for Krueger in an Army uniform.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Period

LIU outshot Army 12-9 in the period, with Justin Evenson and Vinnie Purpara keeping the game scoreless.

Second Period

In another scoreless period, both penalty kills came up big, with Army killing off two and LIU killing off three.

Third Period

LIU got the scoring started at the 6:16 mark of the period when Jacob Franczak netted his first career goal. He added another just 90 seconds later to make it 2-0.
Army found its footing midway through the third, when Mitch Machlitt buried a power play goal to make it 2-1.
With the net empty in he final minute, Anthony Firriolo evened the score with his first goal of the year.

Overtime