Ice Hockey falters in series finale with Crusaders

WORCESTER, Massachusetts - The American International College ice hockey team suffered a 6-2 Atlantic Hockey Association loss at The College of the Holy Cross on Saturday, January 6.

AIC is now 12-9-1 overall and 8-5-1-1-1-0 in AHA play.

The Crusaders jumped to a 1-0 lead with a goal by John Gelatt at 8:14, but AIC had an answer on the power play. Alexander Malinowski found Alfred Lindberg, who fired left-to-right to an open John Lundy for a one-timer. He hit the net with the shot at 12:00 for his 11th goal of the year and seventh on the man advantage.

Late in the first, the Crusaders regained the lead. On a rush play, Tyler Ghirardosi was able to tuck the puck inside the left post at 19:27.

In the second, Holy Cross doubled its score, with a Mack Oliphant strike from the point at 6:35 and a Liam McLinskey power play goal at 9:14.

The third period featured a plethora of penalties, and led to four-on-four play that AIC took advantage of. Matt Rickard handed the puck off to John Lundy and then drove the net as Lundy fed Brett Callahan at the point. The co-captain's shot was redirected by Rickard into the net for his second of the season at 4:47.

AIC continued to push but it was not to be; Joe Solimine hit the empty net at 16:37 as AIC had pulled Cole Hudson for a sixth attacker late, and added another goal at 17:09 for the 6-2 final.

Hudson made eight saves on nine shots in 30:25 after Alexandros Aslanidis stopped 14 shots in the first 29:06 of play. 

AIC returns to action with a two-game series at the Air Force Academy beginning Friday, January 12 at 9:05 p.m.