BOSTON - Conference play continued for eight Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) programs on Friday, with two teams extending winning streaks.
Holy Cross has yet to lose to an AHA opponent at Hart Center Rink this season as it topped Niagara 5-1 in front of its home crowd. Three Crusaders recorded multi-point efforts, led by senior forward Matt DeBoer's fourth career three-point (1G-2A) game.
Junior Connor MacKenzie made 15 saves between the pipes for Holy Cross.
RIT cushioned a 4-1 victory after a three-goal third period to extend its win streak to six games, tied for the fifth-longest in program history. The Tigers have strung together six or more wins six times in program history, including 2025-26.
Reigning AHA Goaltender of the Month and sophomore Jakub Krbecek made 20 saves in RIT's Friday triumph.
Air Force senior blueliner Chris Hedden tallied three points (2G-1A) for the seventh time in his career, the second-most among active defensemen, to help Air Force fly by Sacred Heart on the road 4-1. The Falcons scored twice on the power play.
Junior netminder Dominik Wasik stopped rubber on net 28 times and allowed only one goal to the Pioneers.
(RV) Bentley began a comeback with six seconds remaining in the middle frame and took the lead back 3-2 off the stick of junior forward Chase Davis. However, the Black Knights snuck one by sophomore Nicholas Bevilacqua nearly four and a half minutes later to tie it.
The game-tying goal on the power play from junior forward Barron Woodring was the final one scored within the 60:00 regulation window, which went into overtime.
Neither team could regain the lead within five minutes, and overtime was not sufficient either. The game went into a shootout, where the visiting Black Knights, in the first game of a home-and-home, took the extra point 1-0.
Robert Morris made a late push, scoring twice in the third period. However, the Colonials fell 3-6 in non-conference action to LIU.
SCORES
HOLY CROSS 5 - NIAGARA 1
BOX SCORE - RECAP
Holy Cross Goals: Ty Gagno, Michael Abgrall, Connor Welsh, Jack Stockfish, Matt DeBoer
Niagara Goal: Andy Reist
ARMY WEST POINT 3 - (RV) BENTLEY 3 (AWP SOW, 1-0)
BOX SCORE - RECAP
Army West Point Goals: Nils Forselius, Easton Zueger, Barron Woodring
Bentley Goals: Michael Mesic, Kellan Hjartarson, Chase Davis
RIT 4 - MERCYHURST 1
BOX SCORE - RECAP
RIT Goals: Zach Wigle, Christian Catalano, William Moore, Austin Brimmer
Mercyhurst Goals: Matteo Disipio
AIR FORCE 4 - SACRED HEART 1
BOX SCORE - RECAP
Air Force Goals: Chris Hedden (2), Will Staring, Nolan Cunningham,
Sacred Heart Goal: Mikey Adamson
LIU 6 - ROBERT MORRIS 3
BOX SCORE - RECAP
Long Island Goals: Isaac Lambert, Onni Leppanen (2), Dylan Kinch, Noah Serdachny, Sixten Jennersjo
Robert Morris Goals: Patrick Johnson, Cameron Garvey, Dominic Elliott
ABOUT ATLANTIC HOCKEY AMERICA
Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) is in its second season following the merger between the Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America. The conference fields 10 Division I men's teams and seven women's teams. For more information, visit atlantichockeyamerica.com.
Connect with AHA on X (@Atlantic_Hockey), Instagram (@atlantichockeyamerica) and Facebook (Atlantic Hockey America).
Watch AHA home games on FloHockey this season.