Air Force Academy
Niagara
Welch's overtime goal lifts Niagara to 3-2 win
11/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Nov. 21, 2003
Chris Welch's goal with 2:17 remaining in overtime lifted Niagara to a 3-2 win over Air Force in a College Hockey America game Friday, Nov. 21, at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena.
Niagara improved to 3-0 in the CHA and 5-5 overall. Air Force fell to 0-3 in the CHA and 6-5 overall. The loss for the Falcons ended a two-game winning streak. The win by Niagara was its fourth straight over the Falcons. The loss was AFA's second in overtime this season.
The Purple Eagles scored twice in the first period and held the 2-0 lead until early in the third period. Jeremy Hall got the visitors on the board first as he scored on a flurry in front of the net at 11:03. NU took a 2-0 lead at 16:33 when Aaron Clarke took a slap shot from the face-off dot for his first goal of the season.
Air Force outshot Niagara, 14-9, in the first period, but NU goalie Jeff VanNynatten made all 14 stops. Each team had seven shots on goal in the second period but neither team scored.
The Falcons got on the board early in the third period as Seth Pelletier scored his first of the season. Shane Saum took a shot from the slot that was saved and the puck came back in the slot to Pelletier. With VanNynatten down on the ice, Pelletier flipped the puck over his shoulder at 1:13. With 4:21 remaining, the Falcons tied the score as freshman Andrew Ramsey re-directed a shot by Buck Kozlowski to tie the score. Kozlowski took a shot from the point and Ramsey's tip from the bottom of the circle was good for his third of the season.
In overtime, Barrett Ehgoetz took the puck down the left boards and gave it to Welch in the face-off circle. Welch spun around and fired a slap shot that beat Mike Polidor short side for the game winner.
Air Force outshot Niagara, 34-20, in the game. Each team had two penalties and each was 0-for-2 on the power play. Polidor made 17 saves for Air Force while VanNynatten had 32 for the Purple Eagles.
A season-high crowd of 2,022 participated in the fourth annual "Toy Trick". Fans were encouraged to bring a new stuffed toy to the game and, when Air Force scores its first goal, throw the toy on the ice. The toys are then distributed by the team to local children during the holiday season. In the first three years, the Falcons collected 1,400 toys. In tonight's game, fans threw 420 toys on the ice.
The "Toy Trick" will also be offered in game two of the series when Air Force and Niagara meet Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7:35 p.m. MST.
--30-
