The Chargers rebounded from a beatdown at the hands of Bentley on Friday, but they still came up short against American International. The Yellow Jackets held on to win 4-3 in Springfield, Mass., on Saturday night.
AIC got on the board just 3:17 into the game. Richard Leitner beat UAH goalie John Griggs alone at the doorstep after a pass from Matt Cassidy for a 1-0 Yellow Jackets lead.
Most of the action occurred in the UAH end during the first period, but AIC could only get the one goal.
It wouldn’t take long for UAH to get on the board in the second. On a break, Mat Hagen fed Doug Reid on the right wing, who powered a wrist-shot past Long to tie the game at 1-1 four minutes in.
In what seems to be a trend, AIC answered almost immediately. Jon Puskar, who was the recipient of back-to-back tripping penalties just minutes before, received a pass from Adam Pleskach all alone in the slot. Puskar buried the puck past Griggs to regain the lead for the Yellow Jackets just 1:08 after Reid’s equalizer.
UAH would tie the game again at 2-2 after a Michael Webley goal, assisted by Jeff Vanderlugt, about halfway through the game.
Then AIC’s Adam Pleskach took over. Pleskach received a feed from the near boards and unleashed a one-timer past Griggs to give AIC a 3-2 lead with 3:06 to go in the second.
Just over two minutes later, after a Brice Geoffrion hooking call, Pleskach slapped another one-timer from the point to make it 4-2 Jackets.
UAH cut the lead to 4-3 with Webley’s second goal of the game, putting in the rebound from a Jack Prince shot. Prince and Strukoff with the assists.
UAH had one final chance after Puskar elbowed Prince in the face, resulting in a power play for the final 32 seconds. The Chargers pulled Griggs for the extra attacker, but could not get the tying goal.
UAH visits St. Lawrence for a two-game set on November 2 and 3.