Falcons nearly shock No. 5 C.C., falling 4-2

Nov. 28, 2003

Fifth-ranked Colorado College scored two goals in the final 11 minutes of the third period to defeat Air Force, 4-2, in a non-conference college hockey game Friday, Nov. 28, at the Colorado Springs World Arena.

The Tigers improved to 7-1-3 overall while Air Force fell to 6-7-0. CC also extended its winning streak to 21 games over Air Force. However, the two-goal final margin is the closest in the series since the Tigers beat the Falcons, 2-1 in 1998. In the five previous meetings between the two teams, CC had outscored AFA by a combined score of 36-4.

"I feel so bad for our guys right now," head coach Frank Serratore said. "They played so hard and they care so much. We knew if we won the third period, that we could win the game and that is the situation we wanted to be in. Unfortunately, they won the third period and won the game."

CC struck first as Reid Goolsby scored from Brady Greco at the 9:15 mark of the first period. Goolsby's second goal of the season came on a two-on-one breakaway. Air Force came back to tie the score three minutes later. Freshman Ryan Van Bockel chipped the puck off the boards to Josh Priewe who was just inside the blue line in the center of the ice. Priewe's slap shot tied the game at 1-1.

With 3:04 remaining in the period, the Tigers took a 2-1 lead. Forward Joey Crabb, the WCHA's goal-scoring leader, netted his 10th of the season from Marty Sertich. His wrister from the left post beat Mike Polidor short side.

Neither team scored in the second period, but Air Force outshot CC, 8-7. The Falcons had three power plays in the period, but the Tigers clung to their one-goal lead. Air Force tied the score early in the third period on freshman Theo Zacour's fourth of the season. Mike Knaeble controlled the puck on the boards and sent it into the slot where Zacour tipped it past CC goalie Matt Zaba.

From that point on, it was all CC. The Tigers scored the final two goals of the game and outshot the Falcons, 14-5, in the third period. Aaron Slattengren scored the game-winner at 9:12 of the third period, just four seconds after a CC power play ended. Slattengren skated the puck the length of the ice, went through two Falcon defensemen in the faceoff circle and scored his sixth of the season. Greco gave the Tigers a 4-2 lead with 3:14 remaining. His power play goal came from Sertich and Andrew Canzanello.

CC outshot AFA, 29-18, in the game. The Tigers were 1-for-4 on the power play while the Falcons were 0-for-4. Zaba made 16 saves for Colorado College while Mike Polidor made 25 for Air Force.

"Our problem is that we have trouble scoring goals," Serratore said. "We have a very good team, but need to score more than two goals in a game. I don't know how many times I have seen our team play a fabulous game, work hard and give a great effort, but just not score enough goals to win."

Air Force faces another WCHA team as the Falcons host 10th-ranked Denver, Saturday, Nov. 29, at 7:05 p.m. at the Cadet Ice Arena.

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