Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
3-7-1, 2-3-0
Bentley University
3-10-0, 1-5-0
Hockey Completes Weekend Sweep with 5-2 Victory Over Bentley
November 19, 2022 | Hockey
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army West Point hockey (3-7-1, 2-3-0 AHA) secured the weekend sweep over Bentley (3-10-0, 1-5-0 AHA) with a 5-2 victory at Tate Rink on Saturday night.
The Black Knights scored three unanswered goals in the third period with the game-winning goal coming from Joey Baez on the power-play. Baez scored two goals on the man-advantage, while Gavin Abric made 28 saves in goal to help Army to the victory.
GAME SYNOPSIS
After being shut out on Friday, Bentley came out determined on Saturday at Tate Rink, suffocating the Black Knights in the early stages. Army did not register its second shot on goal until 16+ minutes into the period. Bentley went ahead midway through the period with a goal from Dylan Pitera as the Falcons outshot Army 12-5 through the first 20 minutes.
The game seemed to be headed for another low-scoring affair, until three goals were scored in the final four minutes of the second period. Army tied the score on the power-play, with Max Itagaki feeding John Keranen who would slip a pass over to Joey Baez for the one-time finish. Less than a minute later, Army would go ahead through Patrick Smyth. On a break from the defensive zone, Noah Wilson left the puck for Thomas Farrell before crashing to the net. Farrell would then feed Smyth, who flicked a wrist shot past Connor Hasley in the Bentley net. The Falcons would answer in the final minute of the period, setting up the third period to decide the game.
Nine minutes into the third period, Army went ahead on the power-play with another goal on the man-advantage from Joey Baez. Baez lit the lamp with another ferocious one-timer from just beyond the left circle, with Itagaki tabbing yet another power-play helper for Army. With less than five minutes on the clock, Army went ahead by two through a wonderful individual goal from Eric Huss. The lone forward inserted into the lineup after yesterday's win, Huss collected a loose puck in the neutral zone and fended off a Bentley defender before beating the netminder with a shot in close. Huss became the second Army player to score their first goal of the season in the game, following suit with Smyth. Taking a late penalty, Army was faced with a 4-on-6 after the goalie was pulled for the Falcons with three minutes remaining. The game was put to rest by Jake Felker, who registered his second goal of the campaign, both shorthanded and on the empty net.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Joey Baez scored Army's first goal to tie the game at one before scoring again to put Army ahead in the third period, each on the power-play. Baez leads the Black Knights with six goals on the season.
- Max Itagaki posted his second multi-point effort of the season. The freshman extended his point streak to eight games, in which he has registered ten points. Itagaki leads Army with 11 assists, which currently ranks third in Atlantic Hockey.
- John Keranen collected his second multi-point effort of the season and recorded three points in the series against Bentley.
- Gavin Abric secured his second win of the season, making 28 saves including 12 in the third period to blank the Falcons in the final 20 minutes.
- Thomas Farrell became the latest firstie to join the 100 Club, playing in his 100th career game for Army. Farrell tabbed an assist and skated to a +1 rating in the victory.
- Patrick Smyth and Eric Huss each collected their first goals of the season in the win. It also marked the fourth career goal for each.
- Jake Felker added a shorthanded, empty-net goal for Army to sure the game away. It marked the second goal of the season for Felker and third shorthanded goal for the Black Knights. Army leads Atlantic Hockey with three shorthanded tallies.
- The Army penalty kill went 4-for-4 on Saturday and 7-for-7 in the series versus Bentley.
- Army last swept Bentley in a two-game set in February 2021, which was a home-and-home.
Coach's Corner
?? @Coach_BRiley postgame reaction following Army's win over Bentley to secure the sweep#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/LG3CxgBTBz
— Army Hockey (@ArmyWP_Hockey) November 20, 2022
Up Next
Army will hit the road for an Atlantic Hockey series at Canisius next weekend, with a pair of 1:00 contests on Nov. 25-26.
