Falcons tie Niagara, 3-3, in overtime
2/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Feb. 22, 2002
Air Force tied the school record by extending its conference unbeaten streak to four games as the Falcons and Niagara skated to a 3-3 overtime tie in a College Hockey America game, Friday, Feb. 22, at Dwyer Arena in Niagara, N.Y.
In the last four games, Air Force is 2-0-2 in conference play. The streak started with a 2-2 tie at Bemidji State, Feb. 9, and continued with a sweep of Alabama-Huntsville, Feb. 15-16, at the Academy.
Niagara out-shot Air Force, 25-12, but the game was much closer than the shot total indicated. With the tie, the Falcons are now unbeaten in their last three games at Niagara.
"This was a very good road point for us," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We played hard and physical. We came from behind against a good team on the road and earned a tie."
A very physical and aggressive Air Force team took the game to Niagara in the first 10 minutes, but fell behind as Niagara scored two goals in a span of 1:10. Niagara's first two shots on goal beat AFA goalie Zach Sikich and the Purple Eagles had a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period. NU's Scott Crawford scored the game's first goal when he skated the puck in from the blue line and through the slot. He beat Sikich with a slap shot to the far side from the face-off dot at 9:39. Just over one minute later, Nick Kormanyos scored on a tough angle shot from the bottom of the circle, short side. The Falcons capitalized on their third power play of the period as Brian Gornick scored his fifth of the season with 11 seconds left in the period. Derek Olson fed Spanky Leonard at the point and Leonard fired a shot waist high toward the net. Gornick tipped in his fifth goal of the season to make the score 2-1.
Air Force, 12-15-2 overall and 3-10-2 in the CHA, tied the game midway through the second period. Freshman defenseman Steve Mead stopped a clearing attempt by Niagara and kept the puck in the zone. Mead sent a waist-high shot from the point that was tipped in by Olson for his 18th of the season. Sikich was outstanding in the second period, stopping all 10 shots and making several acrobatic saves.
Niagara, 17-13-1 overall and 8-7-1 in the CHA, broke the 2-2 tie at 6:23 of the third period when a Niagara shot hit an Air Force defenseman and went into the net. Crawford took a shot from the bottom of the circle on the boards and the puck hit the skate of a Falcon and went in the net. Air Force's Scott Zwiers tied the game at 3-3 with 3:02 remaining. His goal, from Shane Saum and Jace Anders, came just two seconds after a Falcon power play ended. With Air Force pressuring NU goalie Rob Bonk, Anders skated the puck behind the net and passed to Saum on the right post. Saum pushed the puck through the crease to wide-open Zwiers who netted his 10th of the season.
Niagara controlled the puck for the majority of the overtime period, but Air Force had two quality chances with just under two minutes remaining. Gornick made a clean steal in the neutral zone and skated in uncontested on Bonk. His shot, low to the stick side, was saved. Just seconds later, Olson and Gornick had a rush up ice and Gornick had the puck in the slot. Bonk came out and poked the puck away and out of danger. Gornick's shot was the only one of the overtime period.
Sikich, the freshman goalie from Gilbert, Minn., often strayed from the net creating dangerous opportunities but he stopped 22 of the 25 shots he faced. He made his third consecutive start, all against conference teams, while Mike Polidor is recovering from a strained groin he suffered seven days ago.
"Zach needs to be more consistent," Serratore said. "He has the ability to make the big save but also has the tendency to make mistakes. He gave up a couple soft goals, but he stopped five or six shots that should have been in the back of the net."
Air Force and Niagara conclude the two-game series, Saturday, Feb. 23, at 7:05 pm EST.
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