Devoney nets game-winner in 3-2 Falcon win
2/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
NIAGARA, N.Y. -- Billy Devoney's goal with 2:38 remaining in the third period lifted Air Force to a 3-2 win over Niagara in a College Hockey America game Friday, Feb. 10, at Dwyer Arena in Nagara, N.Y.
Air Force snapped a five-game losing streak and improved to 7-16-1 overall and 4-9 in the CHA. Niagara fell to 13-13-1 overall and 7-5-1 in the CHA. The win was Air Force's second of the season over Niagara. Niagara is in third place in the league while Air Force moved into a tie for fifth with Wayne State.
Niagara scored first as Matt Caruana redirected a shot by Marc Norrington for a 1-0 lead at the 7:18 mark of the first period. The goal came just 10 seconds after a Purple Eagle power play ended. The Purple Eagles out-shot the Falcons, 10-4, in the first period. Falcon goalie Peter Foster made nine saves in the period.
Air Force tied the score midway through the second period on the power play. Eric Ehn stopped a clearing attempt on the boards and Brian Gineo fired a shot from the right point. His shot was saved by goaltender Jeff VanNynatten, but Josh Schaffer was camped on the left post and put back the rebound for his seventh goal of the season. The Falcons out-shot Niagara, 21-10, in the period, but VanNynatten made 20 saves in the 20 minutes.
Brian Reese' third goal of the season gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead at the 11:09 mark of the third period. Theo Zacour stole a pass at the half boards and fed Reese whose shot beat VanNynatten through the five-hole from the right faceoff dot. However, just 80 seconds later, Niagara tied the game at 2-2. Les Reaney won a faceoff in the offensive end and Sean Bentivoglio's shot from the faceoff dot beat Foster at the 12:29 mark.
With less than three minutes remaining, Eric Ehn made a pass from the goal line to Brooks Turnquist in the slot. Turnquist was taken down hard, but fed Devoney at the point. Devoney fired a slap shot that beat VanNynatten high for his third goal of the season. Air Force kept the puck deep in the Niagara zone late in the period and not allowing Niagara to pull its goaltender until there was 31 seconds left in the game.
Air Force out-shot Niagara, 39-27, in the game and held a 35-17 advantage in the final two periods. AFA was 1-for-6 on the power play while Niagara was 0-for-4.
Foster played one of his better games of the season, stopping 25 of the 27 shots he faced. He made several great stops, including a glove save of a Randy Harris shot from point blank range in the third period. Van Naynatten made 36 for the Purple Eagles.
"This is the best team I've had since I've been here and we compete so well at the Division I level," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Our guys work so hard and do so many things well. Peter Foster had a big game for us and we needed it. We found a way to get three goals tonight and we held them to two ... that was the bottom line."
Air Force and Niagara conclude the two-game conference series Saturday, Feb . 11, at Dwyer Arena. The Falcons then play a single, non-conference game at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) Monday, Feb. 13, in Rochester, N.Y.
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Air Force snapped a five-game losing streak and improved to 7-16-1 overall and 4-9 in the CHA. Niagara fell to 13-13-1 overall and 7-5-1 in the CHA. The win was Air Force's second of the season over Niagara. Niagara is in third place in the league while Air Force moved into a tie for fifth with Wayne State.
Niagara scored first as Matt Caruana redirected a shot by Marc Norrington for a 1-0 lead at the 7:18 mark of the first period. The goal came just 10 seconds after a Purple Eagle power play ended. The Purple Eagles out-shot the Falcons, 10-4, in the first period. Falcon goalie Peter Foster made nine saves in the period.
Air Force tied the score midway through the second period on the power play. Eric Ehn stopped a clearing attempt on the boards and Brian Gineo fired a shot from the right point. His shot was saved by goaltender Jeff VanNynatten, but Josh Schaffer was camped on the left post and put back the rebound for his seventh goal of the season. The Falcons out-shot Niagara, 21-10, in the period, but VanNynatten made 20 saves in the 20 minutes.
Brian Reese' third goal of the season gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead at the 11:09 mark of the third period. Theo Zacour stole a pass at the half boards and fed Reese whose shot beat VanNynatten through the five-hole from the right faceoff dot. However, just 80 seconds later, Niagara tied the game at 2-2. Les Reaney won a faceoff in the offensive end and Sean Bentivoglio's shot from the faceoff dot beat Foster at the 12:29 mark.
With less than three minutes remaining, Eric Ehn made a pass from the goal line to Brooks Turnquist in the slot. Turnquist was taken down hard, but fed Devoney at the point. Devoney fired a slap shot that beat VanNynatten high for his third goal of the season. Air Force kept the puck deep in the Niagara zone late in the period and not allowing Niagara to pull its goaltender until there was 31 seconds left in the game.
Air Force out-shot Niagara, 39-27, in the game and held a 35-17 advantage in the final two periods. AFA was 1-for-6 on the power play while Niagara was 0-for-4.
Foster played one of his better games of the season, stopping 25 of the 27 shots he faced. He made several great stops, including a glove save of a Randy Harris shot from point blank range in the third period. Van Naynatten made 36 for the Purple Eagles.
"This is the best team I've had since I've been here and we compete so well at the Division I level," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Our guys work so hard and do so many things well. Peter Foster had a big game for us and we needed it. We found a way to get three goals tonight and we held them to two ... that was the bottom line."
Air Force and Niagara conclude the two-game conference series Saturday, Feb . 11, at Dwyer Arena. The Falcons then play a single, non-conference game at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) Monday, Feb. 13, in Rochester, N.Y.
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