Army 5, Bentley 1
WATERTOWN, N.Y. – Looking to increase the offensive production of his team, Army hockey head coach
Brian Riley decided to switch up his lines.
The changes worked.
Cody Omilusik tallied his first career hat trick as Army rolled past Bentley, 5-1, Friday night in an Atlantic Hockey Association matchup at the John A. Ryan Skating Arena.
Coming off a shutout loss last week, Riley juggled all four of lines and the team responded with its highest offensive production of the season to improve to 3-7-2 overall and 2-4-2 in conference play.
Army entered the game averaging 2.1 goals per game but fired off 45 shots to win the first of a two-game series at Bentley and drop the Falcons to 3-5-2 overall and 2-3-2 in league games.
Omilusik, a junior, scored twice in the second period and then early in the third to help Army post its second conference win of the season.
Mike Hull had a goal and assist and
Mike Santee also scored for Army while
Eric Sefchik and
Andy Starczewski each had two assists.
Bryant Skarda,
Owen Meyer,
Joey Ammon and
Marcel Alvarez also collected assists for the Black Knights.
Army goalie
Jay Clark made several acrobatic saves and posted 31 saves for his third win of the season.
Hull staked the Black Knights to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period, Skarda moved the puck to Meyer who found Hull in the slot. Hull made a nifty turnaround and scored on a back-handed shot with 9:24 left in the first period. It was Hull’s fourth goal of the season, Meyer’s sixth assist and Skarda’s second assist.
Omilusik extended the lead to 2-0 three minutes later when he netted his team-leading seventh goal of the season. Sefchik and Starczewski were credited with the assists on Omilusik’s goal, from just outside the crease.
Army scored a power play late in the period for a 3-0 lead after the first 20 minutes. With a Bentley player in the penalty box for elbowing, Omilusik scored his second of the game, rewarded for his hard work in front of the net with his eighth goal of the season with 1:19 left. Starczewski and Hull were credited with the assists as all three players picked up multiple points in the first period.
The Falcons got on the scoreboard in the second period with a short-handed tally. Each team had multiple power play chances but it was Brett Hartung netting the short-handed score at the 5:01 mark of the second period to make it 3-1 Army.
Omilusik secured the hat trick early in the third period. Sefchik won the faceoff start the period to Alvarez who fed Omilusik who buried the chance for his first career hat trick, just 10 seconds into the final period. Sefchik picked up his second assist and Alvarez his first.
Army added its own short-handed goal to increase its lead. With an Army player serving a charging penalty, Santee found the back of the net from the right circle for his second goal of the season off of Ammon’s first assist two minutes into the third period.
Army and Bentley will conclude their two-game series Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
GAME NOTES: The Army hockey team was treated to a postgame tailgate party hosted by the West Point Society of New England … Army’s team hotel was a busy place with the St. Lawrence men’s hockey team (playing at Harvard) and the Wisconsin women’s soccer team (NCAA playoffs at Boston College) utilizing the establishment … Sergeant First Class Brock Noah of the Department of Military Instruction served as the team’s Officer Representative …
Chris Spracklen returned to the lineup for the first time since the season-opening game against Nebraska-Omaha … Army’s starting lineup consisted of forwards
Andy Starczewski,
Eric Sefchik and
Cody Omilusik, defensemen
John Clark and
Marcel Alvarez with
Jay Clark in net ... Bentley’s Joe Calvi was announced as the starting goaltender but was escorted to the locker room before the game began and Kyle Rank was in net … Army scored three goals in the second period at Colgate during a 4-4 overtime tie …
Cody Omilusik’s hat trick was Army’s first since
Bryce Hollweg netted three goals in a 7-2 win against Bentley on Nov. 16, 2007.
ARMY 5, BENTLEY 1
ARMY 3-0-2—5
BENTLEY 0-1-0—1
First Period:
ARMY – Hull (Meyer, Skarda), 10:36
ARMY – Omilusik (Sefchik, Starczewski), 13:05
ARMY – Omilusik (Starczewski, Hull), PP, 18:41
Second Period:
BENTLEY – Hartung (Menzione), SH, 14:59
Third Period:
ARMY – Omilusik (Sefchik, Alvarez), 00:10
ARMY – Santee (Ammon), SH, 2:16
Shots: Army 45 (14-21-10); Bentley 32 (6-14-12)
Saves: Army 31 (Clark, 60:00, 6-13-12); Bentley 40 (Rank, 57:40, 11-21-8; Vitale, 2:12, x-x-0)
Power Plays: Army 1-7; Bentley 0-5
Penalties: Army 6-12; Bentley 8-16
Attendance: 476
Courtesy: Army Athletic Communications
