Army scored three consecutive goals after trailing 3-0 late in the second period to post a 3-3 tie with Bentley College Saturday night in Atlantic Hockey action at Tate Rink. The two teams, which entered the weekend battling for fourth place in the AHA and separated by a single point, remain in the same position with Army leading Bentley by a point.
Trailing, 3-1, entering the third period Army (9-13-5, 7-8-5 AHA) made it a one-goal game 3:54 into the period. Luke Flicek led the Black Knights on a 3-on-2 along the right side of the Bentley zone and slid a pass cross-ice to Bryce Hollweg, who was unmarked at the back post. Hollweg one-timed a shot past Ray Jean to the near post for his sixth goal of the season.
The Black Knights rallied all the way back to tie the game 4:23 later. The puck was played behind the Bentley goal. Pressure by Matt Hickey led to a turnover and Hickey played the puck in front of the net to a wide open Aaron Anderson, who fired a shot past Jean to even the game at 3-3.
Army had two further power plays down the stretch, but despite the momentum and the man-advantage opportunities, Bentley was able to stand tall and keep the game even through the end of regulation. Army had the best chance in overtime just after the expiration of a Bentley penalty. Rob Ross took a shot at the top of the slot that was blocked by traffic in front of the net. The puck caromed to the left of Jean to Lyle Gal, but Jean made a sprawling stop to keep Bentley alive.
Jean finished the night with 28 saves, while Roberts matched his effort making 28 saves in goal for Army. The Bentley penalty kill was effective for the second straight night, blanking Army on its eight power-play chances and holding them to 1-for-15 on the weekend. In the last nine games, Bentley has allowed just three power-play goals on 45 power-play chances.
Bentley (9-10-4, 7-6-4) opened the scoring with 5:05 remaining in the first period on freshman Tom Dickhudt’s first collegiate goal. Freshman Casey Russell made a two-line pass that split the five Black Knights on the ice and sent Dickhudt in on a breakaway. He didn’t waste the opportunity and shot past Roberts to give the Falcons the first goal of the game for the second consecutive night.
The Falcon penalty kill was effective to open the game, killing off three Army power plays in the opening 20 minutes and limiting the Black Knights to just one shot on net during the three full penalties. Bentley held a 9-8 advantage in shots on goal at the end of the first.
Bentley doubled the lead 7:50 into the second period on a shorthanded goal from freshman Dain Prewitt. Sophomore defenseman Jaye Judd cleared the puck out of the Bentley zone along the right side boards. Prewitt chased down the loose puck in the neutral zone and skated in on a breakaway on Roberts. Prewitt skated in on the left hand side of the zone and pulled the puck back across the crease and around Roberts before firing home his sixth goal of the season.
The Falcons made it 3-0 on the power play later in the second period as senior forward Paul Markarian netted his fourth goal of the season. The puck was swung from the left corner to senior defenseman Josh Chase, who made a square pass along the blue line to sophomore Anthony Pellarin. Pellarin snapped a shot towards the net and Markarian tipped the puck up past Roberts to put Bentley up by three.
Army struck back with 2:11 remaining in the second period to cut the deficit to two goals. Directly off of a face off Chris Migliaro had his shot deflected by a Bentley defenseman, loop over a helpless Jean, and just under the crossbar for the goal. Army clearly had the momentum following the goal, and eventually fought back for the tie.
