Hockey Drops 3-1 Decision To Holy Cross

Friday, January 21

West Point, NY

7:05 PM

Army West Point

8-11-3

Holy Cross

6-16-2

Holy Cross

Army West Point

Photo by: Army Athletics

Hockey Drops 3-1 Decision To Holy Cross

January 21, 2022 | Hockey

Box Score

By: Phil Tor

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point hockey team returned to Tate Rink on Friday night to take on the Holy Cross Crusaders for the first time this season. The Black Knights late rally attempt was not enough to overcome the Crusaders, who would skate to a 3-1 win.

The lone goal from the Black Knights was scored by Coby Mack in the third period. The goal was the first of his Army career.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Black Knights came into tonight's contest expecting a physical game out of the Crusaders, who lived up to the expectation. The teams battled from the jump, locking in defensively to hold each other to 11 and six shots for Holy Cross and Army, respectively, after the first period. The first frame ended in a 0-0 tie after 11 saves by Gavin Abric and three blocked shots by Anthony Firriolo.

Army came out of the locker room looking for a spark and nearly got one from Eric Butte in the first minute of the period but his shot attempt in the slot just tipped off the right pad of the Crusader goaltender. Holy Cross turned away three straight shots from the Cadets before putting a goal on the board to take a 1-0 lead.

The Army penalty kill unit was called upon a few times tonight and answered that call with a few clutch kills in the second period. The Black Knight PK teams killed off six straight minutes of Crusader powerplays, including a nearly two-minute 5-on-3 advantage. Once back at even strength, the Crusaders muscled in another goal to take a 2-0 lead into the second intermission.

The Black Knight rally included 29 shot attempts, 13 of which were on goal, and a five more saves for Gavin Abric. Coby Mack scored his first career goal 13 minutes into the period to cut the lead to 2-1. Holy Cross scored an empty net goal to increase its lead. The game would end with Holy Cross taking the win by a score of 3-1.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Coby Mack scored the lone goal for Army in the third period
Mack's goal was the first of his career
Marshal Plunkett slid into second on the team with his ninth assist on the Mack goal
Kendrick Frost picked up the other assist on the goal to bring his season point total to five
Gavin Abric saved 29 shots in net
The Army penalty kill stopped all three Crusader powerplays
Army outshot Holy Cross, 35-32
The Cadets blocked 14 shots in front of Abric
Anthony Firriolo led the way with four blocked shots
Eric Butte added three blocks to bring his season total to 19
Army posted a faceoff win percentage of 59.7-percent off with 37 wins and 25 losses
Butte led the way with a 18-8 record on the dot
Michael Sacco had the best percentage in the circle tonight, winning seven-of-nine draws and post a 77.8-percent win percentage

UP NEXT
The Black Knights have another chance to earn climb in the Atlantic Hockey standings tomorrow night in game two with the Crusaders. Holy Cross and Army are set to meet on the ice at Tate Rink at 4:05 PM.