The Yellow Jackets used two first period goals to pace a predictably low-scoring affair in Springfield on Friday.
Blake Christensen scored a little over one minute into the first period, potting his seventh of the season with assists from Dominik Florian and Shawn McBride. AIC extended its lead to 2-0 at the halfway point of the period when Darius Davidson scored his third of the year. Janis Jaks recorded his seventh assist on that strike.
The lead held through 40 minutes of predominantly clean hockey. Only two first period penalties permeated the scoresheet, and the second period came and went without a single player in the box. But four penalties in the third included three against AIC, resulting in a late power play for the Crusaders. Scott Pooley scored an extra-attacker, 6-on-4 goal for his 17th of the season to cut the lead to 2-1.
Holy Cross was unable to score the equalizer, however, as AIC won for the sixth time in conference play. Stefano Durante made 21 saves, while Paul Berrafato countered with 25 for the Crusaders.