Hockey Completes Sweep of Holy Cross With 3-1 Win

Friday, February 18

Worcester, MA

7 PM

Army West Point

Holy Cross

Hockey Completes Sweep of Holy Cross With 3-1 Win

February 18, 2022 | Hockey

Box Score

By: Phil Tor

WORCESTER, Mass. – Army West Point Hockey completed its weekend sweep of Holy Cross tonight with a 3-1 win led by a pair of goals from team captain, Colin Bilek. The Black Knights skate away with six Atlantic Hockey points after the two-win weekend and hold sole possession of second place with a 12-10-2 AHA record.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The battle between the Crusaders and Black Knights carried over from last night, as the teams went toe-to-toe through the first half of the opening period. Holy Cross put the first two shots on net but Gavin Abric turned them aside to settle the game down.

After a faceoff win by John Keranen, Army worked the puck deep into the attacking zone and set up Colin Bilek, who teed up a one-timer that beat the goalie and found the back of the net. Lyle and Garby set up the captain for the goal to give Army the early lead. The Black Knights preserved the lead to keep the one-goal advantage at the first intermission.

The Black Knights set up an offensive rush right out the gates in the second period with Marshal Plunkett putting the first shot on goal 70 seconds into the period. Brett Abdelnour got a stick on the bouncing puck, getting it over to Eric Butte who found Hunter McCoy on the left circle in prime position. McCoy lined up a shot that made it through traffic and into the top right corner, giving Army a two-goal lead.

Abric made 12 more saves in the second period, but Holy Cross was able to add a tally late in the period to make it 2-1 going into the final frame.

Army once again benefited from an early goal in the third period, once again off the stick of Bilek. The senior took control of a loose puck and sent a shot past the outstretched pad of the goalkeeper to put Army up 3-1.

Abric blocked the next 12 shots he faced to keep Holy Cross at bay and to lift Army to the series sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Colin Bilek scored three goals over the weekend to lead the offensive charge
Bilek ends the weekend with four points (3g, 1a)
Bilek also fired a game-high seven shots on goal
Gavin Abric recorded 36 saves in the contest
Abric ends the weekend with 75 saves and a .949 save percentage
Hunter McCoy scored the game-winning-goal after his second tally of the season
Brett Abdelnour dished out two helpers in the contest
Eric Butte, Ricky Lyle, Joey Baez and Andrew Garby all added assists
Coby Mack, Anthony Firriolo and Thomas Farrell all blocked four shots
Army blocked 24 total shots against Holy Cross
The Black Knights won 17-of-20 faceoffs in the first period and 44-of-67 in the game
John Keranen led the way with 18 wins on the dot
Eric Butte chipped in with 15 wins
The penalty kill stopped all three Holy Cross powerplays
Abric made eight saves while his team was on the PP

COACH RILEY REACTS

Coach Riley reacts after the 3-1 win and sweep of Holy Cross

????#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/A6u4Du8anL
— Army Hockey (@ArmyWP_Hockey) February 19, 2022

CADET QUOTES

After a 75-save (.949) weekend, Gavin Abric about the big boost this gives Army Hockey #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/9nNDqCukS4
— Army Hockey (@ArmyWP_Hockey) February 19, 2022

UP NEXT
Army will have the week to prepare for a home-and-home series against Sacred Heart next weekend. The first contest will take place in Bridgeport on Friday, Feb. 25 before the Cadets conclude the 2021-22 regular season on Sat. Feb 26 at 4:05 inside Tate Rink.