Ice hockey falls to Holy Cross

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College ice hockey team fell 7-3 to the College of the Holy Cross in Atlantic Hockey Association play on Tuesday, October 18.

AIC falls to 2-2-2 on the year and 2-1-0-0-0-0 in the AHA.

The Crusaders struck first as Tyler Ghirardosi's netmouth pass from the left side deflected off of Liam McLinskey and into the net at 8:00. Jack Ricketts lit the lamp at 17:46 as well, giving the Crusaders a 2-0 lead through one.

AIC had decent control of the start of the second, but a pair of penalties put Holy Cross in a position to expand on its lead and they did, as Alex Peterson and Matt DeBoer converted both halves of a 5-on-3, at 11:08 and 11:41 respectively, to turn the lead to 4-0.

AIC notched a power play goal of its own late in the frame. Jordan Biro's pass from the boards set up Alexander Malinowski in the slot, and he dished to Blake Bennett for a one-timer that lit the lamp at 15:09.

The teams exchanged goals early in the third. A turnover in front set up McLinskey for his second at 1:26, but Nicholas Cardelli scored 19 seconds later to make it a 5-2 game.

Still down three late, AIC pulled its goalkeeper for an extra attacker with eight minutes to play. Although the Yellow Jackets did score with the extra attacker, as Biro and Evan Stella set up Dustin Manz at 17:31, the Crusaders scored twice on the empty net, with Ricketts tallying at 16:01 and McLinskey completeing the hat trick at 19:43 for the 7-3 final.

AIC returns to action Saturday, October 22 at 7:05 p.m. when the Yellow Jackets host Lindenwood University at the MassMutual Center for the first of a two-game set. Tickets are still available at www.aictix.com.