Junior forward Chad Fifield scored two goals and assisted on three others to lead Army to a 9-2 romp over visiting Ryerson in a game that saw eight Black Knights register multiple points. The win, in front of 1,353 fans at Tate Rink, completed a weekend sweep of the Canadian school and improved Army to 2-0 on the year.
A player that was cut from the squad a year ago after appearing in seven contests his freshman season, Fifield solidified his spot on the roster Saturday night with a line that accounted for four goals and 11 points. Linemates Seth Beamer and Chris Migliaro each scored one goal and picked up two assists.
“I am part of a great line that is working hard right now,” Fifield said. “We are crashing down low and trying to make things happen. The chemistry we have seems to be working.”
Fifield gave the hosts a 2-0 lead early in the first period when he gathered in a rebound off a Beamer shot and deked Ryerson goaltender Braden Deane, tucking the puck around the fallen goalie and into the net.
Chris Casey pushed that lead to three 38 seconds later, and the Rams quickly called timeout to compose themselves after allowing three goals in a span of 2:36. Chad Mayfield had put the Black Knights on the board 4:19 into the contest.
Nearly six minutes later, Mayfield netted his second marker of the opening period and Army was well on its way to victory. Ryerson’s Mark McMillan ended the Black Knights’ four-goal run with two minutes left in the first period.
Beamer and Mayfield each registered a career-high three points as Army’s top unit of Casey, Mayfield and Ryan Cruthers accounted for nine points on the evening. Mayfield finished with two goals and one assists, while Casey and Cruthers each produced one goal and two assists.
Head coach Rob Riley was pleased with the performance from his offensive unit. It was the first time that Army scored nine goals in a game since a 9-2 win over Bentley on Nov. 30, 2001.
“We created a lot of chances, and tonight those chances went in,” Riley said. “When you have more than one line scoring, you are going to enjoy a lot of success.”
Cruthers’ first collegiate goal came on the power play with 3:24 remaining in the second period. It was the first of three consecutive tallies with a man advantage as Ryerson unsuccessfully tried to kill off a five-minute major to McMillan for fighting and a two-minute roughing minor to Justin Norwood.
Beamer notched the second power-play goal with 23 seconds left, and Nick Hamm scored 20 seconds later with just three ticks left on the clock. All three goaltenders played one period for Army. Starter Brad Roberts picked up the win, making 3 saves on four shots in the first period.
Freshman Treye Kettwick, making his collegiate debut, made five saves in the second period and senior Bill Moss recorded five saves in the third without allowing a goal.
Deane made 33 saves in the first two periods before being lifted for Josh Gander in the third. Gander recorded 10 saves without allowing a goal in relief of Deane. Army, again, held a decided advantage in shots on goal, 52-15. The Black Knights outshot Ryerson 92-31 for the weekend.
The Black Knights are off until Saturday, Oct. 18 when they host American International College in a non-league tilt at Tate Rink. The faceoff at 7 p.m. marks the end of Army’s three-game homestand to open the 2003-04 campaign.
