Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y.  – Owen Meyer notched his first career hat trick and four other players scored goals as Army beat American International, 7-1, Saturday in an Atlantic Hockey Association contest at Tate Rink.

Meyer scored all three of his goals in the first two periods as the Black Knights improved to 4-4-0 overall and 3-1 in Atlantic Hockey competition with the weekend of sweep of AIC.

Freshman Jay Clark earned his first career win in goal, being credited with 23 saves in his second appearance of the season.

“It was good to get Jay some ice time, especially in a conference game,” said Army head coach Brian Riley. “He played very well and turned away some good scoring opportunities.”

Meyer’s hat trick was Army’s first since Chris Casey accomplished the feat on March 6, 2004 in a 9-6 loss to Connecticut and helped Army to its first weekend sweep since Bentley in February of last year.

“We know we are capable of scoring some goals,” said Riley. “It was nice to see goals from so many different players tonight.”

Chris Colvin, Aaron Anderson, Robb Ross and Luke Flicek also scored for the Black Knights who led 3-0 after the first period and put the game away with three third-period goals. Flicek also added a pair of assists.

Army scored on its first shot of the game and never looked back. Meyer, off a double assist from Flicek and Hollweg, opened the scoring 48 seconds into the contest. Five minutes later, Meyer had his second goal, this time off assists from Chris Blair and Pat Copeland.

Chris Colvin extended the Army lead to 3-0 three minutes later with his first goal of the season, an unassisted tally.

Meyer completed his first collegiate hat trick and first since junior hockey three years ago midway through the second period when he took a pass from Flicek and went high over the shoulder of the goalie. It was Flicek’s second assist of the day and team-leading ninth of the season.

AIC got on the board in the third period when Steve McLeod converted a power play opportunity for his first goal of the season.

Anderson followed with his first goal of the season, 30 seconds later, off an assist from Will Ryan. Ross, from his knees, made it a 6-1 Army lead two minutes later off a Ken Rowe pass. Flicek closed the scoring with 16 minutes into the game. Flicek tried to pass the puck, corralled it and then blasted a shot past the goalie for his third goal of the season.

The Black Knights will complete a three-game homestand next weekend when Bentley visits Tate Rink for a pair of games. Both the Friday and Saturday contests are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Game Notes: Sophomore Ken Rowe has a point in each of his last four games ... Owen Meyer scored four times over the weekend against AIC and has five goals in six games against the Yellow Jackets ... Saturday’s game marked the second time this season Army has scored four straight goals, also doing it against Holy Cross ... Army drew just two penalties for the second time this season ... Army has scored three goals in three different periods, doing it twice against AIC and also ay Holy Cross ... Army now leads the all-time series with AIC 43-14-3 ... Army has six power play goals on the season ... Luke Flicek now has 58 career assists ... 1,672 fans turned out at Tate Rink, a season-high for attendance ... Chris Blair had two assists for his first career multiple-point game of his career.

Army 7, AIC 1
AIC  0-0-1--1
ARMY  3-1-3--7

First Period:
ARMY – Meyer (Hollweg, Flicek), 00:48
ARMY – Meyer (Blair, Copeland), 15:01
ARMY – Colvin (unassisted) 18:35

Second Period:
ARMY – Meyer (Flicek, Blair), 9:03
AIC – McLeod (Smith, Tendler), PP, 11:45

Third Period:
ARMY – Anderson (Ryan), 12:14
ARMY – Ross (Rowe, Fearing), 14:19
ARMY – Flicek (unassisted), PP, 16:16

Shots: AIC 24 (7-12-5); Army 38 (13-11-14)
Saves: AIC 31 (Fenton, 60:00, 10-10-11); Army 23 (Clark, 60:00, 7-12-4)
Power Plays: AIC 1-2; Army 1-3
Penalties: AIC 5-10; Army 2-4
Attendance: 1,672