WEST POINT, New York - It had been nine years since Eric Lang occupied the home bench at Tate Rink on the campus of the United States Military Academy.

His assistant, Brendan Riley, was born and grew up at West Point, but had only ever been involved in college hockey games there as an opponent against the program his family has run for the last three-quarters of a century.

Their team made sure the return home for both was unforgettable, as the American International College ice hockey team took down the Rochester Institute of Technology 2-1 in overtime in the Atlantic Hockey America Championship Tournament First Round on Friday, February 28.

AIC improves to 12-21-2 with the victory.

The first period was mostly in AIC's favor, with the Yellow Jackets outshooting the Tigers 16-7. However, Ethan David turned back all of AIC's chances, and the Tigers did start to push late in the period.

In the second, it was RIT that broke the deadlock. Ty Whyte started a quick three-on-two after a turnover in neutral ice, and Grady Hobbs' shot was put back by Philippe Jacques at 6:21.

The Yellow Jackets took a penalty, but killed it off, and Chase Clark kept the net clean thereafter, reaching the second intermission still within one.

Early in the third, AIC drew level. The Yellow Jackets forced a turnover with a strong forecheck, and Alfred Lindberg pushed the puck up the left-wing wall for an Alexander Malinowski one-timer that John Lundy tipped past David for his ninth of the season at 3:14.

RIT nearly took back the lead with a 2-on-0 breakaway, but Clark was able to get his blocker to the Grady Hobbs one-timer and keep the game even. That was the best chance for either side in the rest of the third, and the clock hit 0:00 with a winner still not decided.

The Tigers took the first four shots on goal of the extra session, including one just eight seconds in on a turnover off of the opening faceoff, but AIC took the final one. Brett Rylance forced the puck up for Oscar Geschwind on the right wing side. He drove the zone, and just below the right faceoff circle angled a back pass to Casey McDonald in the slot. AIC's co-captain made no mistake with his shot, driving home the overtime winner, his second of the season, at 6:01.

Clark totaled 31 saves in the win; David set a career high with 33 as AIC outshot the Tigers 35-32. 

The Yellow Jackets now await the results of the other AHA First Round games to see who they will face in the AHA Quarterfinals beginning on Friday, March 7.