Hockey Loses 6-4 in Game One to Canisius

Friday, November 17

West Point, NY

7:00 PM

Army West Point

0-9-0, 0-6-0

Canisius University

2-6-1, 2-2-1

Canisius

Army West Point

Hockey Loses 6-4 in Game One to Canisius

November 17, 2023 | Hockey

Box Score

WEST POINT, NY - Army West Point hockey (0-9-0, 0-6-0 AHA) saw three unanswered goals in the final 11 minutes from Canisius (2-6-1, 2-2-0 AHA) as the Black Knights dropped game one of the series by a score of 6-4 at Tate Rink on Friday night.

Joey Baez scored a pair of goals to lead the Black Knights, including a highlight reel "Michigan" goal where Baez lifted the puck onto his stick while behind the net, and came back across the goal and placed the puck into the net over the left shoulder of David Feesenden in the Canisius net. John Driscoll and Ricky Lyle each logged a goal and assist in Army's efforts.

The game got off to a chippy start, as the teams ended up combining for 72 penalty minutes by the time the 60 minutes was up. Canisius gave Army a five minute power-play to start the contest as a game misconduct before the opening faceoff saw the Golden Griffins a skater down for the entirety of the game. However, Canisius were the ones to benefit early on, scoring shorthanded through Erik Urbank to make it 1-0.

Army took a penalty soon after, also getting a shorthanded tally as Ricky Lyle scored his second of the season after cleaning up in front after a pass in from Sean Vlasich. The tie score would not last long, as Jackson Decker took a centering pass from Trey Funk just 21 seconds later to give the Golden Griffins back the one-goal advantage at 2-1. The chances remained even throughout the first, with an Army giveaway leading to a third goal for Canisius as Oliver Tarr guided in a pass from Kyle Haskins with four minutes to play in the frame. Army outshot Canisius 11-8 in the opening period but trailed by a pair of goals heading to the second.

Midway through the second, Army got back to within a goal as a Pierce Patterson shot from the point was deflected in by John Driscoll, giving him his second tally in as many weekends. Army tied the game a couple of minutes later, as Joey Baez took advantage of a turnover in the Canisius defensive zone, patiently carrying the puck before firing in past Ethan Robertson in the Golden Griffins net, who left the game soon after due to injury after making 13 saves.
The teams shot even at seven apiece in the second, and went into the third period tied at three as Army carried 1:45 of a power-play into the final frame.

Less than a minute into the third, Army got its first lead of the contest through Baez, with a goal of the season contender as he scored lacrosse style from behind his net. It gave Baez his first multi-goal game of the season as Army looked to protect its lead. A penalty-filled third saw Canisius tie the game with 10:14 to go on a four-on-four stretch. It was an even strength score that proved to be the winner with 4:27 to play, as Jackson Nieuwendyk played a puck off the boards and slammed it past Gavin Abric in the Army net to give the game another lead change at 5-4. Army's hopes of a comeback were lessened after a major penalty was taken with under five to play, as Army was able to get a couple of chances in the offensive end before taking another penalty which led to a five-on-three score from Matt Vermaetan of Canisius. Abric made 20 saves in net for Army, as the Black Knights fell 6-4 to open the series.

The puck will drop for game two at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night from Tate Rink.