Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
0-3-1
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
4-0-0
Hockey Falls 7-4 on Road to RPI
October 15, 2022 | Hockey
TROY, N.Y. - Army West Point hockey (0-3-1, 0-2-0 AHA) suffered a 7-4 defeat on the road in a non-conference game with RPI (4-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC). After falling behind 4-1, Army battled back to make it a 4-3 contest before RPI jumped back ahead by three goals and scored a late empty netter bringing the total to 7.
Michael Sacco notched a shorthanded goal and assist on the night while Anthony Firriolo picked up three assists from the blueline.
The game got off to a shaky start for the Cadets, taking a pair of penalties within the first three minutes to give the Engineers a lengthy 5-on-3 opportunity. Gavin Abric stood tall in net throughout the opportunity, making a flurry of saves from shots in close before the puck finally got passed the junior netminder just after the first penalty was released.
Immediately getting a power play of its own, Army got right back on level terms with a goal from Joey Baez. Anthony Firriolo fed Max Itagaki on the right side, before Itagaki played a pass across to Baez who slotted home with a one-time finish. Just over seven minutes into the game, RPI would retake the lead with a goal from Jake Gagnon. The longest scoreless stretch of the game would follow, taking us into the second period.
RPI would strike first in the second frame, extending the lead to 3-1 with 14:29 remaining in the period. After each team successfully killed a penalty, the Engineers would net goal number four with TJ Walsh's second score of the night. Army would head to the power play just before the end of the period, taking it into third.
Army would capitalize in the first minute of the final period, with Firriolo firing a shot on net that was put in off Brett Abdelnour, giving him his second power play goal of the campaign. Just over one minute later, Army got itself firmly back into the game with a goal from Jake Felker at the 2:13 mark. Itagaki found Michael Sacco with a wonderful pass right in front of net, with Sacco's shot well-saved from Jack Watson in net before Felker fired in off the rebound for his first goal of the season to make it 4-3.
The one-goal game would not last long, with RPI scoring a pair of goals on the power play at 4:49 and 5:58 with Walsh securing his hat trick. Trailing 6-3 for majority of the third period, Army got one back late on the penalty kill when Ricky Lyle found himself on a two-on-one with Sacco. Lyle fed Sacco in front who calmly slotted home with 3:21 remaining in the game. The Cadets were unable to complete a miraculous comeback, with the Engineers putting in an empty netter to make it a 7-4 final score from Houston Field House.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Anthony Firriolo posted three assists and now boasts a team-high four on the season.
- Joey Baez extends his point streak to four games and leads the Cadets with three goals to this point.
- Max Itagaki picked up a pair of assists bringing his Army total to three.
- John Keranen won 15-of-25 (.600) faceoffs on the night.
- Gavin Abric made 26 saves in goal including 12 in the first period.
- Army went 2-for-4 on the power play, doubling its PPG total from its first three games.
- Brett Abdelnour scored his second power play goal of the season.
- Michael Sacco scored Army's first shorthanded goal since Colin Bilek vs. Yale last season (11-12-21)
- Ricky Lyle tabbed his first point of the season with his shorthanded assist.
Up Next
Army will stay on the road for another non-league affair with UNH next Friday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m.
For complete coverage of Army West Point hockey follow the Black Knights on Twitter & Instagram @ArmyWP_Hockey and at www.goarmywestpoint.com.
