BRYN ATHYN, Pa. – The Bryn Athyn College ice hockey team celebrated a night of firsts in Junge Pavilion Friday night as the Lions defeated visiting Albertus Magnus, 2-0.

Thanks to a 26-save performance from goaltender Gabriel Couture, Bryn Athyn recorded its first shutout in its 67-game NCAA Division III history. Nikita Smirnov provided the offense for the Lions by scoring both goals to give him 12 goals the season, placing him first on the list for the most goals in a single season since joining Division III.

With the victory, Bryn Athyn improves to 10-8-3 and has reached 10 wins for the first time as a Division III program.

Smirnov and the Lions wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, taking advantage of an early power play to take a 1-0 lead 4:12 into the game. After passing the puck to Mike Perkett along the blue line, Perkett dished it right back to Smirnov who then one-timed the puck past the right pad of Pierce Diamond for the power-play tally.

After the early goal, Couture was the star as he stopped all 25 shots he faced while the score was 1-0. Six of those saves came while the Lions were short-handed. Albertus Magnus (4-16-2) finished the game 0-for-4 on the power play.

Smirnov ensured the Lions would earn the victory when he scored a breakaway goal with 2:02 left remaining the game, tucking the puck by Diamond on his backhand.

The only thing left to be decided in the final 2:02 would be if the Lions would get their shutout. Couture faced only one more shot on goal during that span, an attempt by Joseph Onorato with 42 seconds left that hit Couture in the chest.

Diamond finished the game with 27 saves for the Falcons.

Bryn Athyn returns to the ice on Saturday, Feb. 1 against Brockport in the Revolution Ice Gardens at 4 p.m.