Hockey Grinds Out 2-1 Win on the Road Against Holy Cross

Thursday, February 17

Worcester, MA

7 PM

Army West Point

13-14-3, 11-9-2

Holy Cross

10-20-2, 7-13-2

Army West Point

Holy Cross

Photo by: Army Athletics

Hockey Grinds Out 2-1 Win on the Road Against Holy Cross

February 17, 2022 | Hockey

Box Score

By: Phil Tor

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Army West Point hockey team picked up three points in Atlantic Hockey play after defeating the Holy Cross Crusaders, 2-1, on Thursday night. The Black Knights had to grind out the win, coming from behind to capture a key win for the team.

Senior captain, Colin Bilek, scored the game-winning goal in the third period and Gavin Abric turned away 39 shots to lift Army to the result.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Black Knights made an early push on the offensive end, firing off a few early shots that were turned away by Holy Cross to kick things off. Army drew back-to-back whistles later in the period, killing the first one off before Holy Cross punched in a rebound to take an early 1-0 lead. Abric would clean up the rest of the 16 shots he faced to keep the game within reach going into the first intermission.

Army was able to answer in the second period thanks to Brett Abelnour, who redirected a shot from Joey Baez while the team was on a powerplay. Colin Bilek recorded the secondary assist on the game-tying-goal. Abric turned away all 11 shots he faced in the period as the game would go into the second intermission knotted at one goal a piece.

The battled continued after the break, as the physicality rose as play moved into the third period. Abric stepped up and made a few great stops early in the third period to cut the Holy Cross charge. Midway through the final frame, Colin Bilek ripped a shot off the Crusader goalie that ricocheted into the air and eventually behind defense and over the goal line. Bilek's 40th career goal gave Army the 2-1 lead with under 10 minutes to play.

The Army defense stood tall down the stretch, matching Abric's six saves with as many blocks in the final period. The Black Knights would hold on to the one-goal lead to secure a 2-1 win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Brett Abdelnour scored the first goal for Army on the powerplay in the second period
It was Abdelnour's fifth goal of the season
Colin Bilek came in clutch with a third-period goal that served as the game-winning-goal
The tally was Bilek's 40th goal in an Army uniform
Bilek also added another assist on the Abdelnour goal and now has a team-leading 17
Ricky Lyle, John Keranen and Joey Baez all added points with assists
Gavin Abric posted 39 saves in the contest
Army has not allowed a 5-on-5 goal in two-plus games
Thomas Farrell blocked a team-high four shots including three in the final period
Army picked up the win despite being outshot 40-23 by Holy Cross
John Keranen led the team in the faceoff circle with 12 wins on the dot
Eric Butte posted the best FO winning percentage with a 10-7 record
The Black Knights scored another powerplay goal tonight
The team has now scored a PPG in six of the past eight games

COACH RILEY REACTS

Coach Riley reacts after a huge win for his group in a playoff-like game at Holy Cross tonight

????#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/ETzsGho49I
— Army Hockey (@ArmyWP_Hockey) February 18, 2022

CADET QUOTES

Colin Bilek scored the game-winner for Army, who picked up three huge points in @Atlantic_Hockey play

Hear more from the captain ??#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/g5c93OencD
— Army Hockey (@ArmyWP_Hockey) February 18, 2022

Brett Abdelnour scored the game-tying-goal tonight and talked about the team's effort in the grind-it-out win

????#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/zx8FX4gIav
— Army Hockey (@ArmyWP_Hockey) February 18, 2022

UP NEXT
Army and Holy Cross will matchup again tomorrow night for game two of the series. Puck drop is set for 7:05 PM in Worcester at the Hart Center Arena.