Box Score WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Sacred Heart men's hockey team completed a sweep of its season series with the AIC Yellow Jackets Tuesday night with a 5-2 win at Olympia Ice Center.
Coltyn Hansen, Zach Sabatini, and Jordan Minello each had a goal and an assist in the victory. Goaltender Brett Magnus made 27 saves for Sacred Heart. The Pioneers outshot AIC 39-29 and held the Yellow Jackets scoreless on three power plays.
AIC (1-10-0, 1-5-0 AHC) scored first, as David Gandara scored from the slot 2:21 into the game. Sacred Heart (5-3-1, 4-2-0 AHC) responded with 12:33 to play in the first when Minello scored his first goal of the season, one-timing a Hansen pass past AIC goaltender Alex Murray. The Pioneers took a 2-1 lead with 9:06 to play in the first period. Hansen scored a shorthanded goal 18 seconds into an AIC power play, getting an assist from Jacob Brightbill to start the breakout.
Senior Josh Phillips put the Pioneers ahead 3-1 2:35 into the second period, scoring from close range on a one-timer from Alec Butcher. AIC closed to within one, 3-2, with 4:17 to play in the third period on a Chris Porter goal. That would be as close as the Yellow Jackets would get. Zach Sabatini and Justin Danforth each scored an empty net goal in the final 1:30 to give the Pioneers a 5-2 win.
Sacred Heart opens a weekend series at Penn State on Friday, November 13 at 7 p.m.
FIRST PERIOD
- AIC's goal came on the Yellow Jackets' second shot on goal of the game.
- Danforth, Mitch Nylen, and Evan Jasper all had a shot saved by Murray in a 25-second span after the AIC goal. The Pioneers had five straight shots on goal in the span of two minutes.
- Minello's goal was his first since March 7th against Army in the AHC Tournament, a span of 10 games.
- Hansen's goal was his third against AIC this season. It was also the Pioneers' second shorthanded goal in as many games.
- Sacred Heart outshot AIC 17-6 in the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
- Sacred Heart opened the second period on the power play, but didn't score on two shots.
- Phillips' goal was his first since Dec. 31, 2012 against Rensselaer.
- Danforth had a shot saved by Murray on a breakaway with 15:09 to play in the period.
- The Pioneers outshot AIC 5-1 in the first 5:17 of the period.
- Brightbill nearly scored with 12:17 to play in the second, but Murray made a glove save from point-blank range.
- AIC went on its second power play with 11:34 to play, but didn't score as Magnus made three saves.
- Magnus made two saves in the final minute, giving him nine for the period.
THIRD PERIOD
- Magnus stopped a pair of shots from AIC's Brandon Lubin early in the period.
- The Pioneers held the Yellow Jackets to two shots on a power play with 12:31 to play.
- Nylen, Danforth and Sabatini each had a shot saved by Murray with 10:05 remaining.
- Sabatini's goal was his first of the season, assisted by Jeff Carroll for his first point of the year.
- Danforth's goal was his third of the season and his fifth point in the last four games.
