Black Knights Fight Back For Road Victory

Thursday, January 21

Worcester, MA

6:05 PM

Army West Point

4-5-0

Holy Cross

4-6-0

Army West Point

Holy Cross

Black Knights Fight Back For Road Victory

January 21, 2021 | Hockey

Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Army West Point hockey team fought back from a 2-0 deficit to take down Atlantic Hockey foe Holy Cross 3-2 at Hart Center Rink on Thursday.

"Great team win tonight against a very good Holy Cross team," Head Coach Brian Riley said. "It felt like a playoff game with the physical intensity out there. We got behind early, but I give the guys credit for sticking with it and getting better and better as the night went on."

After falling behind on a pair of Holy Cross goals in the first, Army turned the tide to get on the scoreboard on an outstanding individual effort by Tucker DeYoung. The senior stick-handled his way through the Holy Cross defense before firing home his fourth goal of the season.

Army would even the game midway through the second when freshman Mitch Machlitt sent a backhanded pass into the slot to find a wide-open Colin Bilek who scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Thomas Farrell would give the Black Knights the lead in the third, when he one-timed a John Keranen pass to the back of the net for the game-winner, his first goal of the campaign.

"I think that win contributed to our team identity a lot," Bilek said. "Being down two and fighting back feels good. It just shows the fight these guys have on this team."

Senior goaltender Trevin Kozlowski made 18 saves en route to his third consecutive victory.

"We'll enjoy this one, but we know we have to turn the page to tomorrow right away," Riley said. "Like we said last week, stringing these wins together can turn a good week into a great week."

HIGHLIGHTS AND NOTES

Junior Colin Bilek set a new career-high with his eighth goal of the season. He scored seven in each of his first two seasons in an Army uniform. After reaching that mark in 38 games as a freshman and 33 games as a sophomore, Bilek has done so in just nine games in 2020-21.
Bilek has now scored eight goals in Army's past six games.
Tucker DeYoung's four goals this season are also a career-high. The senior entered the season with five career goals.
Army's 19 shots on goal in the second period were the most taken by the team in any period this season.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Period

The Crusaders got the scoring going four minutes into the game when Jack Ricketts netted his first collegiate goal.
They extended their lead at the 07:34 mark when Anthony Vincent scored early in Holy Cross' first power play.
The Black Knights cut the lead in half on an impressive effort by Tucker DeYoung. The senior took a pass from Daniel Haider and stickhandled his way into the slot before burying his fourth goal of the year.

Second Period

Army evened the score five minutes into the second, when Mitch Machlitt dished a perfect pass into the slot to find Colin Bilek for the juniors eighth goal of the year.
The Black Knights dominated the period in shots on goal, outshooting Holy Cross 19-3.

Third Period

Army would storm ahead with their third unanswered goal at the 6:13 mark. With the teams skating 4-on-4, John Keranen found Thomas Farrell for the one-timer and the sophomore defenseman rifled home his first goal of the season to give Army a 3-2 lead.

UP NEXT: The Black Knights and Crusaders will meet again on Friday in the second game of the series in Worcester. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.