Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
8-13-3, 7-8-1
Air Force
7-16-2, 3-11-1
Hockey Tops Air Force 3-1 in Series Opener
January 28, 2023 | Hockey
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army West Point hockey (8-13-3, 7-8-1 AHA) took down archrival Air Force (7-16-2, 3-11-1 AHA) in the first meeting of the season between the two service academies. Lucas Kanta potted the game-winning goal for the Black Knights, after Michael Sacco opened the scoring early in the second period.Â
In front of a sold-out Tate Rink, the fans were on their feet early as Eric Huss returned to the Army starting lineup. Gavin Abric was key early on for Army, making 11 saves in the first frame including multiple key stops in the opening minutes. The teams traded power-play opportunities late in the period, but ultimately went into the first intermission with a scoreless deadlock.Â
After killing another penalty early in the second, the Black Knights headed to the man-advantage again seven minutes in. Collecting a pass from John Driscoll at the top of the left circle, Michael Sacco fired a wrist shot past Maiszon Balboa in the Air Force net. The goal gave Sacco his sixth tally of the season as Army jumped out to a lead (Army entered play 5-3-1 when scoring first). Â
The Falcons responded on the first shift after the Army goal, with Ty Pochipiniski scoring his first goal of the season to tie it with 12:18 to play in the period. Despite being outshot 10-8 in the period, Army was able to pull ahead once again, this time with an even strength goal from Lucas Kanta. Ricky Lyle fired a shot on net that was touched in by Kanta through good work in the front of the net. It marked back-to-back games with a goal for Kanta, which the freshman has now achieved twice this season.Â
Abric made 20 saves across the opening 40 minutes, setting up a final period with a one-goal lead for Army to protect. The Black Knights remained stout defensively, as Army registered just four shots on target in the third period. With just over five minutes to play, Army took its fifth penalty of the contest to give Air Force late life. The Army kill stood strong once again, completing a perfect night and giving Army the opportunity to ice the game on an empty net. Leaving it late, Lyle did brilliantly with 14 seconds remaining to collect a loose puck and fire home his fourth empty-netter of the season. Abric made 33 saves in total to lead Army to the game one victory. Army has won the opening Friday night game of an AHA series all four times this season at home, allowing just one goal in the process.Â
INSIDE THE BOX SCOREÂ
- Gavin Abric logged 33 saves including 13 in the final period to limit Air Force to just one goal.Â
- John Driscoll logged a career-high three assists and extended his point streak to three games.Â
- Ricky Lyle scored on the empty net, marking his sixth goal in his past seven contests. Lyle now leads Army with 11 tallies this season.Â
- Michael Sacco collected his sixth goal of the campaign to open the scoring.Â
- Thomas Farrell added an assist, giving him nine points in his past nine Atlantic Hockey games.Â
- The Army penalty kill came up big, killing off five Air Force power-play opportunities.Â
Hear from @Coach_BRiley following tonight's game one victory over Air Force ??#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/kxWrmB6OOM
— Army Hockey (@ArmyWP_Hockey) January 28, 2023
Cadet's Corner
Thomas Farrell on the victory tonight, his D-pairing with Andrew Gilbert and the return of Eric Huss #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/aoUOhOVxz9
— Army Hockey (@ArmyWP_Hockey) January 28, 2023
??? Mikey Sacco on the environment tonight and his goal which opened the scoring #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/xVSMyCRos2
— Army Hockey (@ArmyWP_Hockey) January 28, 2023
Army will return for game two on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. against the Falcons.Â
