Army West Point Athletics
Friday, February 16
Niagara Falls, NY
7:00 PM
Army West Point
9-21-1, 7-15-1
3
at
6
Niagara University
13-14-3, 11-8-3
1
2
3
F
Army West Point
1
1
1
3
Niagara
3
2
1
6
Hockey Tripped Up 6-3 in Game One at Niagara
February 16, 2024 | Hockey
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY - Army West Point hockey (9-21-1, 7-15-1 Atlantic Hockey) was defeated by a score of 6-3 in game one of a two-game series at Niagara (13-14-3, 11-8-3 Atlantic Hockey) on Friday night from Dwyer Arena.
The Black Knights got goals from Brent Keefer, Lucas Kanta and John Driscoll but never led after a fast start from the home side. After trailing 5-1, the Black Knights scored a pair of goals in a stretch that saw Army on the power-play for 14:28 of 14:59 of gametime, but Niagara saw out the victory in the third period.
Â
The Black Knights fell behind early through three first period goals from the Purple Eagles on 11 shots. Tyler Wallace tucked home a breakaway to open the scoring, before Brent Keefer scored on the power-play two minutes later with assists going to Max Itagaki and Michael Sacco. It ended a four-game drought of not converting on the power-play for Army, but Niagara would answer on a power-play of its own at the 10:26 mark to quickly retake the lead. Carter Randklev deposited the third of the frame for Niagara with 1:29 left, as Army then took its second penalty which extended into the second.Â
Gavin Abric took over in goal for the Black Knights to replace Evan Szary to begin the second period, as the Purple Eagles got their fourth on an even strength tally at the 4:34 mark in between two power-plays. Niagara then made it a 5-1 game midway through the game with a tally from Drew Vieten, but Army would spend all but 31 seconds of the final 10:09 of the period on the power-play via four Niagara penalties which included two five-minute majors. Army was unable to score on a two-minute five-on-three but it gets second tally through Lucas Kanta during the the brief 31 second stretch of even strength play. Army took 4:10 of power-play time into the third period after the extended power-play time in the second.
Moving to the third, Army was able to take advantage of the second major and score from a wristshot off the hands of the John Driscoll who took a feed from Brent Keefer. The goal came with just over 16 minutes to play as Army was back within two. Midway through the period, Lars Rodne finished off a pass from Jack Richard as Niagara converted for the second time on its sixth power-play of the contest to make it a three-goal game once again. Army tested Fiske 12 times total across the last twenty minutes, its most from any period in the game but the Niagara netminder was up to the task eventually making 28 stops on the night. Army finished 2-9 on the power-play. and was outshot 38-31 in the eventual 6-3 defeat.
The Black Knights return for game two tomorrow at Niagara with puck drop set for 5:00 p.m. on FloHockey.
The Black Knights got goals from Brent Keefer, Lucas Kanta and John Driscoll but never led after a fast start from the home side. After trailing 5-1, the Black Knights scored a pair of goals in a stretch that saw Army on the power-play for 14:28 of 14:59 of gametime, but Niagara saw out the victory in the third period.
Â
The Black Knights fell behind early through three first period goals from the Purple Eagles on 11 shots. Tyler Wallace tucked home a breakaway to open the scoring, before Brent Keefer scored on the power-play two minutes later with assists going to Max Itagaki and Michael Sacco. It ended a four-game drought of not converting on the power-play for Army, but Niagara would answer on a power-play of its own at the 10:26 mark to quickly retake the lead. Carter Randklev deposited the third of the frame for Niagara with 1:29 left, as Army then took its second penalty which extended into the second.Â
Gavin Abric took over in goal for the Black Knights to replace Evan Szary to begin the second period, as the Purple Eagles got their fourth on an even strength tally at the 4:34 mark in between two power-plays. Niagara then made it a 5-1 game midway through the game with a tally from Drew Vieten, but Army would spend all but 31 seconds of the final 10:09 of the period on the power-play via four Niagara penalties which included two five-minute majors. Army was unable to score on a two-minute five-on-three but it gets second tally through Lucas Kanta during the the brief 31 second stretch of even strength play. Army took 4:10 of power-play time into the third period after the extended power-play time in the second.
Moving to the third, Army was able to take advantage of the second major and score from a wristshot off the hands of the John Driscoll who took a feed from Brent Keefer. The goal came with just over 16 minutes to play as Army was back within two. Midway through the period, Lars Rodne finished off a pass from Jack Richard as Niagara converted for the second time on its sixth power-play of the contest to make it a three-goal game once again. Army tested Fiske 12 times total across the last twenty minutes, its most from any period in the game but the Niagara netminder was up to the task eventually making 28 stops on the night. Army finished 2-9 on the power-play. and was outshot 38-31 in the eventual 6-3 defeat.
The Black Knights return for game two tomorrow at Niagara with puck drop set for 5:00 p.m. on FloHockey.
Team Stats
AWP
NIA
Shots
31
36
PPG
2
2
SHG
0
0
Penalties
8
10
Penalty Mins
16
34
Faceoffs Won
36
35
Game Leaders
+/-
-1
Goals
1
Sh
4
A
1
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
-1
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ HockeyD
/ HockeyF
/ HockeyF
/ HockeyF
/ Hockey
F
/ Hockey
G
/ Hockeyvs. Sacred Heart
Saturday, November 10
Test
Wednesday, November 07