BOSTON - Eight Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) programs hit the ice to compete in conference action on Friday night.

Only one contest went to overtime, with Air Force skating off with the extra point.

SACRED HEART VS. (RV) BENTLEY
The Pioneers went on the road to Waltham, Mass. and blanked first-place (RV) Bentley with four goals. Sacred Heart scored two in both the second and third periods, each scored by a different skater.

Freshman goaltender Teagan Kendrick made 28 saves in the 4-0 shutout win.  

ROBERT MORRIS VS. NIAGARA
Despite falling behind early, Niagara was able to pot four straight goals between the second and third periods. Sophomore forward Jacob Maillet took the lead for the Purple Eagles 16:47 into the middle frame.

Two of Niagara’s goals were empty netters in the final minute of regulation.

HOLY CROSS VS. CANISIUS
Holy Cross scored three of its four goals in the first period. The Crusaders netted their fourth and final goal 8:10 into the middle frame.

At that point, the visiting program led 4-1. Canisius provided a scare, scoring twice and climbing back into the game with more than half of the third period remaining.

Freshman netminder Danick Leroux’s 14-save third period helped cement a 4-3 victory for Holy Cross.

MERCYHURST VS. AIR FORCE
In the only matchup of the evening that went to overtime, Mercyhurst struck first but found itself trading goals with Air Force in a tightly contested matchup.

The Lakers tied the game 9:23 into the third with regulation’s final goal after the Falcons took their first lead late in the second period.

Regulation and overtime could not decide the game result. Officially, the contest ended in a 3-3 tie. However, Mercyhurst picked up an extra point with a 3-2 shootout victory.

Air Force freshman forward Oliver Genest scored all three Falcons’ goals as he recorded his first collegiate hat trick in the same game that he netted his first goal at the Division I level.

SCORES
SACRED HEART 4 - (RV) BENTLEY 0
BOX SCORE - RECAP
Sacred Heart Goals: Vitaly Levyy, Ray Fust, Reid Pabich, Noah Ellis

NIAGARA 5 - ROBERT MORRIS 2
BOX SCORE - RECAP
Niagara Goals: Marshall Finnie (2), Spencer Young, Jacob Maillet, Noah Hackett
Robert Morris Goals: Michael Felsing, Tanner Klimpke

HOLY CROSS 4 - CANISIUS 3
BOX SCORE - RECAP
Holy Cross Goals: Connor Welsh, Quinn McCall, David Hymovitch, Timothy Heinke
Canisius Goals: Alton McDermott, Grant Porter, Alton McDermott

MERCYHURST 3 - AIR FORCE 3 (MER SOW, 3-2)
BOX SCORE
Mercyhurst Goals: Christian Kocsis, Ryan Coughlin, Peter Klemm
Air Force Goals: Oliver Genest (3)

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.