Air Force Academy
Team USA Under 18 (Exh)
US Under 18 Team beats Air Force, 4-2
12/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Dec. 7, 2003
The U.S. National Under-18 Team scored two third-period goals to defeat Air Force, 4-2, in an exhibition hockey game at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Team USA scored first as Kevin Porter scored at 4:08 of the first period on a shot right in front of the net. The Falcons tied the game at 18:31 of the opening period on a goal by sophomore Matt Bader. Bader skated the puck into the zone and was looking for teammate Brandon Merkosky in front of the net. Bader's pass deflected off of a skate and into the net to make the score 1-1.
AFA took a 2-1 lead midway through the second period as Steve Mead scored a transition goal. The Falcons had a two-on-one breakaway and Mead took a shot from the top of the circle. It was saved, but he rebounded his own shot and put it past USA goaltender Jordan Pearce.
Team USA tied the score two minutes later with a power play goal from Brandon Scero. His goal came on a nice pass through the crease to the opposite post from Matt Auffrey. Team USA took a 3-2 lead at 12:04 of the third period when Chad Kolarik followed his own shot and beat AFA goaltender Peter Foster.
Team USA put the game out of reach when Kolarik scored a short-handed goal from Nathan Davis at 2:29 of the third period. The Falcons could not break out of its own zone and Davis intercepted a pass. Foster came out of the net to clear the puck from danger, but Kolarik took the puck near the left post and scored into the open net.
Air Force outshot Team USA, 29-24, in the game. Team USA was 1-for-5 on the power play and also had a short-handed goal. AFA was 0-for-5 on the man advantage.
Air Force, 7-8-1 overall this season, was playing its third game in less than 48 hours. The Falcons played the University of Findlay on Friday and Saturday nights in Ohio and took three of four points in a College Hockey America series.
The Falcons are now idle until Dec. 28-29 when the Falcons travel to Storrs, Conn., for the UConn Tournament.
--30-
