Crusaders force ice hockey to Game 3

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts -- The American International College ice hockey team was defeated 4-3 by the College of the Holy Cross on Saturday, March 4 in the second game of a best-of-three series in the Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament Quarterfinal.

The series is now tied 1-1, with a winner-take-all third game set for 1:05 p.m. at the MassMutual Center on Sunday, March 5. AIC's overall record is now 18-13-7.

As in the series opener, the first period was scoreless, although not without chances; Jarrett Fiske made 10 saves in the period. 

In the second, the Crusaders put the pressure on, firing 10 of the first 11 shots in the frame. Yet it was AIC striking first, as Blake Bennett caused a turnover in the left corner and the puck found Casey McDonald alone in front for his fourth of the year at 11:52.

Late in the period, Matt Rickard won a battle in the corner of AIC's end and was able to spin the puck to Oscar Geschwind, who quickly fed it up the ice to Nicholas Cardelli to start a 2-on-1. Cardelli used the decoy to great effect, whipping a wrister into the cage at 17:01 for his 11th of the season.

Before the second could expire, the Crusaders pulled back within one. A set faceoff play worked to get Liam McLinskey a one-timer in the slot that lit the lamp at 18:27.

The Crusaders continued the momentum into the third, tying the game on a rush power play goal by Matt Guerra at 2:03. They then scored twice in a minute span, as Matt DeBoer put his squad ahead at 11:49, and McLinskey notched his second of the game at 12:47 on a great move in front.

With a two-goal deficit looming, AIC pulled Fiske and was able to hit the net. A Dustin Manz bid deflected off of Brian Kramer in front and right to McDonald, who punched it into the net at 17:21 for his fifth of the year, getting AIC within one. On the next shift, the Crusaders took a penalty, and AIC pounded on the target, but could not score again as the Crusaders held on for the 4-3 win.

Fiske ended the game with 35 saves; he has stopped 70 total in the series.