Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
8-14-3, 7-9-1
Air Force
8-16-2, 4-11-1
Hockey Falls to Air Force as Teams Split Service Academy Series
January 28, 2023 | Hockey
WEST POINT, NY – Army West Point hockey (8-14-3, 7-9-1 AHA) fell 6-4 to Air Force (8-16-2, 4-11-1 AHA) in game two of the series on Saturday afternoon, as the Falcons were able to earn the split in front of a sold-out Tate Rink.
Air Force jumped out to a 3-0 lead less than eight minutes into the game, a deficit that proved pivotal for Army who was never able to get it in without one goal. Joey Baez scored twice on the power-play for the Black Knights while Max Itagaki and Anthony Firriolo added a pair of assists to lead Army.
Coming off last night's victory, Army was stunned by three early goals for Air Force. Luke Rowe got the scoring started 4:39 into the game, and exactly three minutes later the score was 3-0 in favor of the Falcons. Willie Reim and Mason McCormick provided the goals, which thrust Justin Evenson into net for Army to replace Gavin Abric.
Heading to its second power-play later in the period, Army was able to get on the board after Joey Baez fired in a perfectly placed shot from the right point. Anthony Firriolo and Max Itagaki maintained their strong reputation on the power-play, each collecting an assist. Despite taking four penalties compared to Army's two, Air Force won the shots battle 15-14 in the opening period.
With slight momentum entering the second, Army was once again on its heels and surrendered a goal 26 seconds into the period to make it a 4-1 contest. Less than four minutes later, Nate Horn cleaned up on the rebound to give the Falcons a four-goal advantage at 5-1. However, Air Force continued to take penalties and Army went on the power-play shortly after. Baez once again lit the lamp for Army, taking one-timer from the left circle off a pass from John Keranen for his eighth power-play goal of the season.
Army found itself firmly back in the game with 5:33 left in the second, after Sean Vlasich recorded his first collegiate goal from a long-range wrist shot which deflected in off an Air Force body. After having cut the four-goal lead in half, Army headed to the final period trailing 5-3. Army would head to the power-play early in the third, after a too many men call on the Falcons.
Air Force was able to put together and convert a two-on-one breakaway while shorthanded, as Parker Brown scored his fifth goal of the season off a feed from Bennett Norlin. Army eventually scored on the power-play, with Thomas Farrell netting his fifth of the season with an assist from Ricky Lyle. Army controlled a majority of the third period, as Air Force took three penalties in total across the final 20 minutes. After pulling the goalie with over three minutes left, Army was unable to make it a one-goal contest, bringing the final score to 6-4 as the teams each took away three points from the series.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Joey Baez tallied two goals on the power-play, bringing his season total to 12. With eight goals coming on the power-play, Baez leads the conference in man-advantage scores and ranks fourth in the country.
- Anthony Firriolo added two assists and a game-high four blocked shots. The Army captain leads the Black Knights with 22 points this season.
- Max Itagaki collected a pair of assists, bringing him into a tie for the Atlantic Hockey lead with 19 helpers.
- Sean Vlasich potted his first collegiate goal to make it a 5-3 game in the second period.
- Thomas Farrell scored his third goal on the power-play this season and has recorded four points across his past four games.
- Ricky Lyle added an assist, giving him 10 points in his past nine games. Lyle also won six of eight faceoff draws.
- Justin Evenson made 18 saves for the Black Knights coming on in relief.
- John Keranen and Brett Abdelnour each added assists.
- Army scored a season-high three power-play goals.
Army will hit the road to take on Niagara this Friday-Saturday (Feb. 3-4) for an Atlantic Hockey weekend series.
