WATERTOWN, Mass. - Junior winger Cody Omilusik scored a hat trick as Army defeated Bentley University 5-1 on Friday night in the first game of a weekend Atlantic Hockey series between the two teams. Junior goalie Jay Clark made 31 saves to earn the win for the Black Knights.
Army scored three goals in an eight minute span in the first period off Bentley goalie Kyle Rank (Islip, N.Y./Markham Waxers), who was a last-second starter in place of junior Joe Calvi (New Lenox, Ill./New England Jr. Huskies).
A second period shorthanded goal by Bentley freshman Brett Hartung (Tallahassee, Fla./Wichita Falls Wildcats) got the Falcons to within 3-1 heading into the third period, but two quick goals by the visitors squashed any hopes of a rally.
Rank was inserted just seconds before the opening face-off, and he kept Army off the scoreboard for the game's first 10 minutes. But Army, who out skated and out shot Bentley in the first period to the tune of 14-6, took advantage of its opportunities and some defensive lapses by Bentley to net three goals in the second half of the period.
Sophomore Mike Hull opened the scoring at the 10:24 mark, and then Omilusik struck for the first time 2:31 later to give the Black Knights a 2-0 advantage. Omilusik found the back of the net again on the power play 1:19 before intermission.
Bentley picked up the intensity in the second period and killed off a 1:12 two-man advantage for Army midway through the period. The Falcons' penalty kill came up big again minutes later as Bentley scored its second shorthanded goal in as many games.
A pass by senior Marc Menzione (Darien, Ill./Mahoning Valley Phantoms) in the neutral zone to Hartung sprung him on a breakaway, and he beat Clark to the glove side to get Bentley to within 3-1 with 5:01 left in the period.
Just 10 seconds into the third period however, Omilusik completed his hat trick and re-established Army's three-goal lead in the process. The Black Knights then put an end to any hopes of a Bentley rally 2:11 later when freshman Mike Santee scored shorthanded.
Army improves to 3-7-2 overall and 2-4-1 in AHA play with the win. The Falcons drop to 3-5-2 and 3-3-2 in the conference.
These two teams will complete the series Saturday night at 7:05 in Watertown.
