Air Force Academy
Wayne State
Collins' short-handed game-winner beats AFA, 3-2
2/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Feb. 28, 2003
Wayne State's Billy Collins scored an unassisted short-handed goal midway through the third period and that was the difference as the Warriors beat Air Force, 3-2, in a College Hockey America game Friday, Feb. 28, at the Great Lakes Sports City in Fraser, Mich.
Air Force, 10-20-3 overall and 2-12-3 in the CHA, again fell behind early as WSU scored two goals in the first period. Dustin Kingston put the Warriors on the board at 11:37 of the first period. Jason Durbin made a nice pass from the right circle to Kingston who tipped in the pass at the left post. WSU, 15-16-2 overall and 8-7-2 in the CHA, took a 2-0 lead at 16:08 on a 5-on-3 power play goal from Chris Vail. Six seconds into the power-play, Maxim Starchenko won the faceoff and Vail came in to score his sixth of the season.
The Falcon power play clicked in the second period as Andy Berg got back on track with his 15th power play goal of the season. Air Force's power play had scored on just 2-of-42 chances in the last six games entering tonight's contest. Ryan Wiggins made the pass from the behind the net to Steve Mead at the top of the circle. Berg's one-timer from Mead beat David Guerrera to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Scott Zwiers tied the score at 2-2 early in the third period with his 13th goal of the season. Zwiers collected a WSU turnover in front of its own goal and took the puck to net. Zwiers' first shot was saved by Guerrera but his rebound tied the score at 2-2.
Air Force had three power-play opportunities in the third period, but it was the third advantage that backfired as Collins scored the short-handed goal at 7:31 of the third period.
In a well-played, evenly matched game, WSU out-shot Air Force, 27-26. The Falcons were 1-for-8 on the power play while WSU was 1-for-5. Mike Polidor made 24 saves for the Falcons while Guerrera also made 24 for the Warriors.
Berg's power-play goal was his 15th of the season, tying the school record set by Mark Manney in 1981-82. Berg is second in the nation in that category, one behind the national leader.
Air Force and Wayne State conclude the series Saturday, March 1, at 7 p.m. EST.
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