SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Holy Cross men's ice hockey team defeated AIC, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at the MassMutual Center to force a win-or-go home game three.
 
The two teams played even in a first period that saw Holy Cross out-shoot AIC, 10-6. The Crusaders received three power play opportunities in the frame, while the Yellowjackets had two.
 
AIC got out to a quick 2-0 lead in the second period, with Casey McDonald and Nicholas Cardelli netting goals at the 11:52 and 17:01 mark, respectively.
 
Sophomore Liam McLinskey scored his second goal of the series just before the end of the period to send Holy Cross into the second intermission with a one goal deficit. Senior Bobby Young won the faceoff forward to freshman Devin Phillips, who found McLinskey in the corner where he unleashed a no-angle shot that found its way past the AIC's Jarrett Fiske.
 
The Crusaders proceeded to score three more unanswered goals to open the third period to tie the game and take a 4-2 lead.
 
Junior Matt Guerra tied the game at the 2:03 mark, which proved to be the lone special teams' goal for either side. After sending a stretch pass to senior Alex Peterson, Peterson found Guerra streaking up the middle for a pass where he ripped a wrist shot past Fiske for the score.
 
Freshman Matt DeBoer picked up his third goal of the season nine minutes later to take the lead in the Crusaders' favor. Sophomore Matt Shatsky picked the puck up in the defensive zone, finding senior Jackson MacNab in the neutral zone for a cross ice pass. MacNab found Young streaking across the blue line for a pass, and after taking some contact, sent a perfect feed across to DeBoer who sent the one-timer into the back of the net.
 
McLinskey picked up his second goal of the game and third of the series just under a minute later to extend the Holy Cross lead to two. Freshman Charlie Spence won a battle along the boards, pushing the puck ahead to Phillips. Phillips sent the puck towards the net where it was blocked by an AIC defender, bouncing right onto McLinskey's stick. His initial shot was saved by Fiske, but he was able to collect the rebound and beat a sprawling Fiske.

Junior netminder Jason Grande recorded 11 saves in the win, while Fiske posted 35 in the loss.
 
The two teams will meet again tomorrow, Sunday, March 5, at 1:05 p.m. In the tie-breaking game three, the winner of the contest will move on to the semifinal round of the AHA Tournament.
 
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