NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Cameron Weitzman's (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec) late third-period goal propelled the Albertus Magnus College men's ice hockey team to a 3-2 home victory over the Knights of Neumann University on Friday evening at the Ralph Walker Skating Rink. The win extends the Falcons' win streak to seven games as they head into the holiday break.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Albertus Magnus 3 | Neumann 2
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (7-4-0) | Neumann (3-6-1)
BOX SCORE
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first period stood as the quietest of the game, as neither team scored over the 20 minutes. It was an even battle throughout the frame, as Neumann held a slim edge in shots, 13-12.
The action almost immediately picked up in the second period, as both teams scored a goal by the 3:30 mark. The visitors found the back of the net first, 2:24 into the second on a goal by Brady Mistler. Dionne Demke sparked the tally, controlling the puck from behind the net before feeding Mistler, who slapped a shot backwards to the goalie's stick side.
However, Albertus did not stay down long, needing just 1:06 to find the equalizer. After having a few cracks at the goal, Sam Anderson (Calgary, Alberta) finally put one across the crease to make it 1-1. Despite the hot start, the second period did not see any more scoring as the two teams headed to the third deadlocked at one.
In the third period, the Falcons pulled ahead by taking advantage of their power-play opportunities. AMC scored on both of their extra-man chances in the third, the first goal coming from Tyler Ignazzitto (Bath, Ontario) with 11:44 gone. The rookie gave Albertus a 2-1 lead by kicking a Jonathan Stein (Vancouver, British Columbia) pass to himself before sneaking a shot through the keeper's legs for the score. Charles Risk (Medicine Hat, Alberta) tallied his team-best 11th assist on the goal.
The Knights answered 3:56 later to again even the score at 2-all. Neumann's Mykyta Volobuyev scored the goal, sending a slapshot from the blue line that found space just over the goalie's shoulder at the 14:40 mark.
With the score again tied, both teams looked for their opportunity to break the deadlock in regulation. A Barry Kneedler holding penalty with 3:45 remaining proved to be the chance that the Falcons needed. With an extra man, Albertus passed the puck around its zone until Weitzman rebounded a Colt Corpse (Fort Wayne, Ind.) shot and tallied the game-winner to the goalie's glove side. Ryan Malko (Cranford, N.J.) also earned an assist on the score.
Logan Bateman (Ottawa, Ontario) continued his remarkable run of goaltending tonight, as he made 32 saves on his way to his seventh consecutive win. The junior has allowed two-or-fewer goals in all seven games of the win streak.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Albertus: Logan Bateman (W, 7-2-0): Shots on Goal 34 | Goals-Against 2 | Saves 32
Neumann: Kyle Pantalone (L, 2-5-0): Shots on Goal 38 | Goals-Against 3 | Saves 35
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The Falcons owned a 38-34 advantage in shots over the Knights.
- Albertus scored two power-play goals on five opportunities.
- Neumann went scoreless on its five power-play chances.
- The Falcons served 10 minutes on five penalties, while the Knights served eight minutes on four infractions.
- Ignazzitto paced AMC with six shots on goal.
NOTEWORTHY
- The Falcons and Knight's met for the first time this evening.
- Albertus extended its win streak to seven games.
- AMC improved to 2-1 at home on the year.
- Weitzman has tallied a team-best two game-winning goals on the season.
- Risk now leads the Falcons with 11 assists.
- Ignazzitto and Anderson have each tallied five goals this year.
- Bateman has started all seven games in goal for AMC during this win streak.
- Corpse tallied his first career assist on the game-winner.
UP NEXT
Tonight's contest concludes the Falcons' slate of the games for 2021. Albertus will next take the ice after the New Year with a home clash against King's (Pa.) College on Monday, Jan. 3, at the Ralph Walker Skating Rink in New Haven, Conn. The opening puck drop is set for 4 p.m.
