Army West Point Athletics
Friday, February 26
West Point, NY
5:05 PM
Army West Point
12-5-1
5
vs
0
LIU
3-9-0
1
2
3
F
LIU
0
0
0
0
Army West Point
1
1
3
5
Army's Streak Hits Double Digits
February 26, 2021 | Hockey
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point hockey team extended its unbeaten streak to 10 games with a convincing 5-0 victory over LIU on Friday evening at Tate Rink.
The Black Knights are now 9-0-1 in their last 10 games and the streak leads the country. Army pulled away with three goals in the first half of the third period and improved to 12-5-1 on the season.
"We knew coming into tonight's game it was going to be a hard-fought battle," head coach Brian Riley said. "Usually if you win a third period you put yourself in a good spot and we were able to do that tonight."
The Black Knights got on the board first with Mitch Machlitt finding the back of the net after forcing an LIU turnover in its own zone. Colin Bilek collected the puck in the high slot and slide the puck to Machlitt in front and he beat Garrett Metcalf through the pads for the 1-0 lead.
Army took a 2-0 advantage midway through the second period with Bilek scoring his 14th of the season on the power play. Perimeter passing led to an opening above the left circle and he fired a wrister into the top right corner of the net for this sixth power play goal of the season. John Zimmerman and Tucker DeYoung were given assists on the power play strike.
The start of the third period was all Black Knights as Army scored three games in the first 6:41 of the frame. Machlitt got it started with his second of the night and his second this season on the power play. He skated in from the top of the right circle and beat Metcalf to make it 3-0 for the home squad.
"It was a great team win tonight," Machlitt said. "We all know we have to be better tomorrow though. We have another gear and will need that to win one for our seniors and keep our streak going into playoffs."
Three minutes after Machlitt's tally, John Laurito tapped in his second of the season after Army capitalized on an LIU turnover in front. John Keranen intercepted a clearing attempt and the puck got around Metcalf and Laurito jammed it home at the right post for the 4-0 lead.
Jake Felker closed out the scoring with his first career goal with 13:19 left on the clock in the final frame. He took the loose puck at the end boards and fired it through the slot and came to the near post. Thomas Farrell took the shot from the point and Felker redirected it home for the fifth tally for the Black Knights.
Trevin Kozlowski once again stood tall in net with his first shutout of the season, making 20 saves, including a highlight-reel stop in the second period. He has not given up more than two goals in his last 10 starts and is unbeaten in his last 12 games. Tonight was a comfortable win for Kozlowski compared to recent games, but he was still competing until the end.
"It was nice to get one under my belt in my senior year," Kozlowski said after earning his first shutout of the season. "I hadn't had one since last year at RMU and this is only the second of my career. Sure it was nice but I don't change my game no matter what the margin is. I won't take my foot off the gas until the final buzzer sounds."
The Black Knights return to Tate Rink for Senior Night against LIU at 7:05 p.m. Fans are encouraged to join the FloHockey stream around 6:45 p.m. to view the senior ceremony prior to the game.
HIGHLIGHTS AND NOTES:
The Black Knights are now 9-0-1 in their last 10 games and the streak leads the country. Army pulled away with three goals in the first half of the third period and improved to 12-5-1 on the season.
"We knew coming into tonight's game it was going to be a hard-fought battle," head coach Brian Riley said. "Usually if you win a third period you put yourself in a good spot and we were able to do that tonight."
The Black Knights got on the board first with Mitch Machlitt finding the back of the net after forcing an LIU turnover in its own zone. Colin Bilek collected the puck in the high slot and slide the puck to Machlitt in front and he beat Garrett Metcalf through the pads for the 1-0 lead.
Army took a 2-0 advantage midway through the second period with Bilek scoring his 14th of the season on the power play. Perimeter passing led to an opening above the left circle and he fired a wrister into the top right corner of the net for this sixth power play goal of the season. John Zimmerman and Tucker DeYoung were given assists on the power play strike.
The start of the third period was all Black Knights as Army scored three games in the first 6:41 of the frame. Machlitt got it started with his second of the night and his second this season on the power play. He skated in from the top of the right circle and beat Metcalf to make it 3-0 for the home squad.
"It was a great team win tonight," Machlitt said. "We all know we have to be better tomorrow though. We have another gear and will need that to win one for our seniors and keep our streak going into playoffs."
Three minutes after Machlitt's tally, John Laurito tapped in his second of the season after Army capitalized on an LIU turnover in front. John Keranen intercepted a clearing attempt and the puck got around Metcalf and Laurito jammed it home at the right post for the 4-0 lead.
Jake Felker closed out the scoring with his first career goal with 13:19 left on the clock in the final frame. He took the loose puck at the end boards and fired it through the slot and came to the near post. Thomas Farrell took the shot from the point and Felker redirected it home for the fifth tally for the Black Knights.
Trevin Kozlowski once again stood tall in net with his first shutout of the season, making 20 saves, including a highlight-reel stop in the second period. He has not given up more than two goals in his last 10 starts and is unbeaten in his last 12 games. Tonight was a comfortable win for Kozlowski compared to recent games, but he was still competing until the end.
"It was nice to get one under my belt in my senior year," Kozlowski said after earning his first shutout of the season. "I hadn't had one since last year at RMU and this is only the second of my career. Sure it was nice but I don't change my game no matter what the margin is. I won't take my foot off the gas until the final buzzer sounds."
The Black Knights return to Tate Rink for Senior Night against LIU at 7:05 p.m. Fans are encouraged to join the FloHockey stream around 6:45 p.m. to view the senior ceremony prior to the game.
HIGHLIGHTS AND NOTES:
- Army is unbeaten in its last 10 games with a 9-0-1 record.
- The unbeaten streak is the longest under head coach Brian Riley and longest since 1995-96 when Army went unbeaten in 12-straight games.
- Kozlowski is now unbeaten in his last 12 starts.
- Kozlowski has given up two or less goals in his last 11 starts and Army is 10-0-1 in those games.
- He now leads Atlantic Hockey with a 1.90 goals against average and his .922 save percentage is second.
- Bilek is now fourth in the nation in goals with 14 and is second in goals per game at 0.78.
- He extended his point streak to 10 games and has at least a point in 14 of his last 15 appearances on the ice
- He leads the league in power play goals with six.
- The Black Knights won their seventh game at Tate Rink season.
- Army is now 11-0-1 when allowing two or less goals and scored five goals for the fourth time this year.
Team Stats
LIU
ARM
Shots
20
43
PPG
0
2
SHG
0
0
Penalties
6
3
Penalty Mins
23
6
Faceoffs Won
22
34
Game Leaders
+/-
1
Goals
2
Sh
4
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Hockey
F
/ Hockey
D
/ HockeyF
/ Hockey
F
/ Hockey
G
/ HockeyF
/ HockeyF
/ Hockey
D
/ Hockeyvs. Sacred Heart
Saturday, November 10
Test
Wednesday, November 07