Ice Hockey forces Game 3 with shutout win at Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Massachusetts - With their backs against the wall and season on the line, the American International College ice hockey team put together a strong showing and blanked The College of the Holy Cross, 3-0, in the second game of the Atlantic Hockey Association Championship Tournament Semifinal on Saturday, March 16.

AIC is now 19-15-4 on the season.

The Yellow Jackets had the bulk of the pressure in the first period, and it finally paid off in a goal. The Crusaders had the puck behind their net and attempted a clear, but it was kept in by Nico Somerville at the left point. He threw the biscuit at the net and it eluded several players, including Crusader goalkeeper Jason Grande, to hit the upper right corner at 13:35 for the senior's second of the postseason and fourth on the campaign.

An early second-period penalty put AIC on the Balise Toyota Power Play, and the Yellow Jackets cashed in as Evan Stella fired a pass up the ice that allowed Brett Rylance to split the defense and fire a shot off the shoulder of Grande and in at 3:59. The goal, which withstood video review, was Rylance's second of the weekend and fifth of the season.

From there, it was Nils Wallstrom's night to shine. The rookie goalkeeper made stop after stop, especially in the third when the Crusaders pushed with everything they had. They pulled Grande with over four minutes to play, and generated a series of chances that Wallstrom shut down. Finally, the Yellow Jackets ended the threat, as Rylance swiped the puck at the Holy Cross blueline and buried his sixth of the year into the open cage at 18:58.

"He's pulseless," said Head Coach Eric Lang of Wallstrom. "He's playing playoff games the same way he played exhibition games in October...he's got a calming presence, and keeps our group calm."

The third game of the postseason series - and seventh game of the season series overall - will take place at the Hart Center at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday, March 17. The winner will play the Rochester Institute of Technology on Saturday, March 23 for the AHA Championship.