Ice Hockey bounces back to down Pioneers in weekend finale

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College ice hockey team flipped the script from the previous night, controlling play and winning 3-2 over Sacred Heart University in an Atlantic Hockey Association battle on Saturday, December 2.

AIC is now 9-6-0 overall and 6-2-0-0-0-0 in the AHA.

AIC was all over Sacred Heart in the first, firing 18 shots on goal and completely commanding the play, but the Pioneers netted the lone goal of the opening stanza as Kevin Lombardi tucked a shot from the left circle inside the right post at 17:28 after his teammates won a battle along the boards.

The score remained that way until the middle stages of the second. Eric Lang powered up the blue line by pairing co-captains Brett Callahan and Brian Kramer, and it worked as the duo were able to spring Alfred Lindberg up the left wing. The rookie centerman ripped a heavy wrist shot at the net that sailed past Chase Clark and in for his second of the weekend and third of the year at 11:52.

Now tied, AIC continued to work, and took the lead less than five minutes later. Logan Jenuwine and Kramer combined for an impressive shift in the Pioneers zone, and ultimately Jenuwine worked his way into being able to fly down the slot. He loosed a wrister that hit Dustin Manz and bounced directly to the right post, where Kramer had come in and whacked home his team-best eighth of the year at 16:26.

The Pioneers had no intentions of going quietly and tied it back up early in the third, with TJ Walsh one-timing home a Tyler Spott cross-pass to the right side at 5:29. 

It left the game looking destined for overtime, until AIC struck late. A breakout play allowed Lindberg to send the puck to Oscar Geschwind as he moved in the left side of the Pioneers zone. He pulled the two Pioneers defensemen near to the net and then backhanded a pass across to John Lundy. The sophomore made no mistake, beating Clark on the shot at 17:27 for his fifth of the year.

The Pioneers pulled Clark for an extra attacker, but to no avail; Nils Wallstrom held on and earned the win. He totalled 18 saves in his eighth victory of the year.

AIC next hosts RIT in a two-game set, beginning on Friday, December 8 at 5:05 p.m.