Photo Credit: Kelsey Lee-Violet Turtle Photography

Tonight for the fifth time in the past five games, AIC got scored on first. Tonight they answered the bell and scored the next four goals to take a 4-1 must win victory over Holy Cross. The team has gotten better since it’s Saturday win against Canisius.

Tonight Nielsson Arcibal, director of Hockey Operations, said “I thought it was a great effort, I thought we possessed the puck a lot more than we did in the last four games.”

On the play of rookie Casper Soderling Arcibal said:

“Casper has been really good during practice, all of our defenders have been getting better. Casper playing with Luis, Casper can see the ups and downs of the game.” Soderling provides a defensive side to the game that allows Luis Lidner to create more offensively. In addition, splitting up Lidner and Brian Kramer keeps them fresher, and spreads the skill out a bit more evenly, making matchups tougher.

Arcibal went in to discuss about finding the AIC brand of hockey and possessing the puck longer to wear other teams down. The staff looks for usually a quality first shot in the zone when planning and playing for possession. Over the past four games before this win, AIC wasn’t getting as many quality looks as they would have liked to see. Arcibal said of playing to their game that , “Those little details matter.”

Forward Josh Barnes said of his two goals and the team effort “ the first one was a good chip.. I was able to get around him an happy it went in, the second one.. Just happy it went in.. Can’t think of a time ever that I had one on a three on zero break out.” Barnes has played better each night as he has carved out a spot in the lineup. Given that AIC has 36 players on their roster, that is a hard thing for a freshman to do, regardless of status.

For AIC, they seem to be building in the right direction. The finale against Canisius had them play consistent and improve but not earn them a win. Those habits improving continued against Holy Cross. If this team wants to get back in the hunt for another Atlantic Hockey Championship, they have to take as many points as possible against a veteran Air Force team next weekend. Barnes described what they need to do best in saying “keep playing the way weve been playing.”

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