Box Score
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The American International College men’s ice hockey team played a tough first two periods against the streaking Sacred Heart Pioneers, but allowed four goals in the third period for a 6-1 loss. With the loss the Yellow Jackets fall to 3-19-2 overall and to 3-15-2 in Atlantic Hockey, while the win improves the Pioneers unbeaten streak to 10-games and their record to 11-9-4 for the season and to 9-6-3 in the conference.
AIC came out strong in the first period, but allowed back-to-back goals late, to go down 2-0 at the first intermission. Freshman Eric Delong (Oakville, Man.) and junior David Berube (Quebec, Que.) netted goals 9-seconds apart to give Sacred Heart the 2-0 advantage.
Freshman
Adam Pleskach (Beausejour, Man.) cut the Pioneer lead to 2-1 when he buried a power-play goal just over four- minutes into the second period. Defensemen, freshman
Chris Markiewicz (Calgary, Alb.) and junior
Mike Little (Enfield, Conn.) were credited with the assists on the goal.
Berube put Sacred Heart back on top by two goals, by finding the back of the net for the second time on the night, early in the third period. Seniors Nick Johnson (Windsor, Conn.) and Gregg Rodriguez (Sunnyvale, Calif.) put the Pioneers up 5-1, when they tallied back-to-back goals just 10-seconds apart, late in the period. Berube completed the victory by collecting the hat-trick with his third goal of the night with 2-seconds remaining in the game.
Freshman goaltender
Ben Meisner (Halifax, N.S.) turned aside 34 shots in the loss, while classmate Steven Legatto (Kelowna, B.C.) made 32 saves in his 10th victory of the season.
AIC was outshot 40-33 on the evening, but went 1-2 on the power-play.
Next up, the Yellow Jackets take this coming weekend off and return to action February 5, to start a weekend double-header at the Olympia Ice Center against Bentley. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m. in the first game and 3:05 p.m. in the finale.