Pioneers strike late to beat ice hockey

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College ice hockey team fell 4-2 in an Atlantic Hockey Association matchup with Sacred Heart University on Thursday, February 2.

AIC drops to 13-11-5 with the setback, including a 10-7-2-1-2-0 AHA mark.

Sacred Heart pounced early and grabbed a 2-0 lead as Neil Shea scored on a shot from the left side of the net just 1:35 in and then set up Austin Magera on a rush play that ended up in the net at 8:12. All three members of that line ended up with two points, as Todd Goehring assisted on both goals.

AIC began its comeback in the second period. On a two-man power play, Jordan Biro dished to the right circle for Blake Bennett, who slammed in his league-leading 17th of the season at 2:36.

In the third, AIC tied the game as Brett Rylance won a draw to Timofei Khokhlachev, who deflected the puck back to Rylance and ultimately to Austen Long, who cut to the net and tucked the puck under the crossbar at 8:30 for his third of the season.

The Pioneers regained the lead at 12:17 as Daniel Ebrahim scored a wraparound goal. Braeden Tuck added an empty netter at 18:54 for the 4-2 final.

AIC and Sacred Heart resume their series at the Martire Family Arena on Saturday, February 4 at 7:05 p.m.