Falcons host Alabama-Huntsville in CHA series
2/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
This Week: Air Force (7-17-1, 4-10 College Hockey America) returns home to host a two-game, CHA series against league-leading Alabama-Huntsville (16-8-2, 10-3-1 CHA), Friday-Saturday, Feb. 17-18, at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena. The faceoff is at 7:05 p.m. MST each night.
Radio/Television/Internet: No television. Both games will be broadcast on the radio (KKML 1300 AM The Sports Animal) and on the internet (www.AirForceSports.com). See page two of this release for more.
Home Sweet Home: After seven straight road games, the Falcons return home for four straight. After the Alabama-Huntsville series, Air Force hosts Robert Morris, Feb. 24-25, in the final two home games of the season. AFA was 2-5 on the road swing.
The CHA Race: Alabama-Huntsville is in first place in the CHA with 21 points, four points ahead of Bemidji State and Niagara. The Chargers were the preseason favorite to win the league. Air Force, picked to finish sixth, is in sixth place with eight points. The Falcons are one point behind fifth-place Wayne State.
Scouting the Opponents: Alabama-Huntsville is in first place in the CHA with 21 points. The Chargers are 16-8-2 overall and 10-3-1 in the league. The Chargers only league losses are home vs. Niagara, at Niagara and at Robert Morris. Senior goaltender Scott Munroe is one of the conference's top goaltenders with a 91.6 saves percentage. UAH ranks second in the league in scoring offense with 3.42 goals per game and scoring defense with a 3.08. Bruce Mulherin leads the team in scoring, and is seventh in the league, with 25 points.
The Coaches: Air Force coach Frank Serratore (Bemidji State, 1982) is in his ninth season at Air Force and his 13th as a collegiate head coach. He has a 125-165-19 record at AFA and an overall mark of 174-256-28. UAH coach Doug Ross is in his 24th season at the school. He has a 438-244-40 (add this season) record at UAH and a 494-279-42 overall record in 27 years as a college head coach.
Earlier This Season vs. UAH: UAH swept a two-game CHA series in Huntsville, Jan. 6-7. The Chargers swept the series by scores of 3-2 and 6-3. In the first game, Billy Devoney tied the game at 1-1 early in the third period. UAH took a 3-1 lead, but Mike Phillipich's goal at 15:49 brought the Falcons to within one. Peter Foster made 24 saves and Scott Munroe made 24. In the second game, after a scoreless first period, UAH scored six goals in a span of eight minutes for a 6-1 lead. Michael Mayra and Brian Gineo scored for the Falcons. Munroe made 31 saves for UAH.
Series Record Vs. UAH: Air Force and UAH have played 51 times and the Chargers hold a 36-13-2 lead in the series that began in 1984 (see right side of page). The Falcons have won just two of the last 14 meetings. At the Cadet Ice Arena, UAH holds a 15-10-1 lead in the series. Since 1990, AFA has beaten UAH just five times (5-28-2), one of which came last season in Huntsville. UAH is 4-1-1 in the last six games at Cadet Ice Arena.
Road Jinx Gone: Air Force finally got the road monkey off of its back ... and in a BIG way. The Falcons had lost nine straight road games this season prior to last weekend. The only victory away from Cadet Ice Arena was a 9-2 win over Union on neutral ice. The skid ended by taking two of three road games on a five-day trip to western New York. The Falcons beat Niagara, 3-2, Feb. 10 and then beat RIT, 3-2 in overtime, Feb. 13.
Close Games: Six of Air Force's seven wins this season have been by one goal. The only game the Falcons won by more than one goal was the 9-2 blowout over Union in the second game of the season. Air Force has played in 11 games decided by one goal and the Falcons are 6-5 in those games. AFA has also played in four games decided by two goals and the Falcons are 0-4 in those games.
Let's Play Four: Air Force has been very good in the fourth period over the last two years. This season, Air Force has played four overtime games and has a 2-1-1 record. The Falcons have beaten Niagara at home and RIT on the road in the extra period this season. Last season, the Falcons played a school record eight overtime games and had a 3-2-3 record. In the last two years, the Falcons are 5-3-4 in overtime.
D In the Play: Air Force has the top two scoring defensemen in the CHA. Freshmen Michael Mayra and junior Brian Gineo are tied for the league lead with 11 points each in 14 CHA games. Senior Brooks Turnquist is close behind with eight league points to rank eighth in the CHA.
Great Class: Air Force's freshmen class is small in numbers but large in talent. Defenseman Michael Mayra is by far the highest scoring freshman defenseman in the league in CHA games. He is tied for first in the league in scoring by a defenseman with 11 (2-9-11) points in 10 CHA games. He is the only freshman defenseman with more than four points. Winger Mike Phillipich is tied for second in the league with six goals in CHA games. He stands fifth in the league in scoring by a freshman with 10 points (6-4-10) in 14 CHA games. Wingers Josh Frider and Brent Olson have become regulars in the lineup and have been solid contributors. Frider has five points while Olson has four. Defenseman Greg Flynn's solid play has earned him a regular spot in the lineup. He has played in 11 of the last 13 games.
It Doesn't Add Up: Air Force's record of 7-17-1 this season is certainly not indicative of its play this season. The number of shots on goal in a game is a good indicator of the territorial play in the game. If the shots were fairly even, than usually the game was fairly even. However, in Air Force's case, the Falcons have controlled the possession time and have dominated the shots on goal category. The Falcons have out-shot their opponents in 18 of the 25 games this season and have won just seven of those games. The opponent has only out-shot Air Force seven times all season and has won all seven. Air Force has out-shot its opponent in 10 of the last 11 games and has a 3-7 record in those contests. In 23 games this season, the Falcons have out-shot the opponents by a total of 126 shots (776-650).
It Comes Down to Special Teams and Goaltending: Special teams and goaltending often determine the out-come of games. Despite the shot differential this season, the Falcons' special teams and goaltending have struggled. The Air Force power play, which is much improved over the last 12 games, ranks 46th in the nation out of 59 teams at 14.7 percent. The penalty kill is last at 76.8 percent. The team's saves percentage of 85.1 is last in the nation as the NCAA average is approximately 90.5. The team's saves percentage is the lowest in the last 10 years at Air Force.
Reese On Fire: Junior winger Brian Reese has been on fire recently. Prior to the Robert Morris series, Feb. 3-4, Reese had scored just two goals in 57 career games. However, beginning with the Robert Morris game on Feb. 4, Reese has scored six goals in his last four games. He had one in the second game at Robert Morris and then scored three in the Niagara series. He scored one in the first game at Niagara to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead in the third period. AFA won the game, 3-2. Reese then scored two power-play goals in the second game at Niagara to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead in the first period. AFA lost the game, 6-2. Two days later, he scored two goals in the 3-2 overtime win over RIT. His first goal was a tip-in from the top of the crease on the power play to give AFA a 2-0 lead. His second goal was the game-winner in overtime as he skated down the left wing and found the net with a blistering wrister.
On Deck: Air Force returns home to play four straight against Alabama-Huntsville, Feb. 17-18 and then Robert Morris, Feb. 24-25.
Last Week: Air Force earned its first road victory of the season and took two of three on a five-day road trip to western New York. The Falcons split a two-game, CHA series with Niagara. AFA won the first game, 3-2, while Niagara won the second game, 6-2. After a day off, the Falcons defeated RIT, 3-2 in overtime, in a non-conference road game
Radio/Television/Internet: No television. Both games will be broadcast on the radio (KKML 1300 AM The Sports Animal) and on the internet (www.AirForceSports.com). See page two of this release for more.
Home Sweet Home: After seven straight road games, the Falcons return home for four straight. After the Alabama-Huntsville series, Air Force hosts Robert Morris, Feb. 24-25, in the final two home games of the season. AFA was 2-5 on the road swing.
The CHA Race: Alabama-Huntsville is in first place in the CHA with 21 points, four points ahead of Bemidji State and Niagara. The Chargers were the preseason favorite to win the league. Air Force, picked to finish sixth, is in sixth place with eight points. The Falcons are one point behind fifth-place Wayne State.
Scouting the Opponents: Alabama-Huntsville is in first place in the CHA with 21 points. The Chargers are 16-8-2 overall and 10-3-1 in the league. The Chargers only league losses are home vs. Niagara, at Niagara and at Robert Morris. Senior goaltender Scott Munroe is one of the conference's top goaltenders with a 91.6 saves percentage. UAH ranks second in the league in scoring offense with 3.42 goals per game and scoring defense with a 3.08. Bruce Mulherin leads the team in scoring, and is seventh in the league, with 25 points.
The Coaches: Air Force coach Frank Serratore (Bemidji State, 1982) is in his ninth season at Air Force and his 13th as a collegiate head coach. He has a 125-165-19 record at AFA and an overall mark of 174-256-28. UAH coach Doug Ross is in his 24th season at the school. He has a 438-244-40 (add this season) record at UAH and a 494-279-42 overall record in 27 years as a college head coach.
Earlier This Season vs. UAH: UAH swept a two-game CHA series in Huntsville, Jan. 6-7. The Chargers swept the series by scores of 3-2 and 6-3. In the first game, Billy Devoney tied the game at 1-1 early in the third period. UAH took a 3-1 lead, but Mike Phillipich's goal at 15:49 brought the Falcons to within one. Peter Foster made 24 saves and Scott Munroe made 24. In the second game, after a scoreless first period, UAH scored six goals in a span of eight minutes for a 6-1 lead. Michael Mayra and Brian Gineo scored for the Falcons. Munroe made 31 saves for UAH.
Series Record Vs. UAH: Air Force and UAH have played 51 times and the Chargers hold a 36-13-2 lead in the series that began in 1984 (see right side of page). The Falcons have won just two of the last 14 meetings. At the Cadet Ice Arena, UAH holds a 15-10-1 lead in the series. Since 1990, AFA has beaten UAH just five times (5-28-2), one of which came last season in Huntsville. UAH is 4-1-1 in the last six games at Cadet Ice Arena.
Road Jinx Gone: Air Force finally got the road monkey off of its back ... and in a BIG way. The Falcons had lost nine straight road games this season prior to last weekend. The only victory away from Cadet Ice Arena was a 9-2 win over Union on neutral ice. The skid ended by taking two of three road games on a five-day trip to western New York. The Falcons beat Niagara, 3-2, Feb. 10 and then beat RIT, 3-2 in overtime, Feb. 13.
Close Games: Six of Air Force's seven wins this season have been by one goal. The only game the Falcons won by more than one goal was the 9-2 blowout over Union in the second game of the season. Air Force has played in 11 games decided by one goal and the Falcons are 6-5 in those games. AFA has also played in four games decided by two goals and the Falcons are 0-4 in those games.
Let's Play Four: Air Force has been very good in the fourth period over the last two years. This season, Air Force has played four overtime games and has a 2-1-1 record. The Falcons have beaten Niagara at home and RIT on the road in the extra period this season. Last season, the Falcons played a school record eight overtime games and had a 3-2-3 record. In the last two years, the Falcons are 5-3-4 in overtime.
D In the Play: Air Force has the top two scoring defensemen in the CHA. Freshmen Michael Mayra and junior Brian Gineo are tied for the league lead with 11 points each in 14 CHA games. Senior Brooks Turnquist is close behind with eight league points to rank eighth in the CHA.
Great Class: Air Force's freshmen class is small in numbers but large in talent. Defenseman Michael Mayra is by far the highest scoring freshman defenseman in the league in CHA games. He is tied for first in the league in scoring by a defenseman with 11 (2-9-11) points in 10 CHA games. He is the only freshman defenseman with more than four points. Winger Mike Phillipich is tied for second in the league with six goals in CHA games. He stands fifth in the league in scoring by a freshman with 10 points (6-4-10) in 14 CHA games. Wingers Josh Frider and Brent Olson have become regulars in the lineup and have been solid contributors. Frider has five points while Olson has four. Defenseman Greg Flynn's solid play has earned him a regular spot in the lineup. He has played in 11 of the last 13 games.
It Doesn't Add Up: Air Force's record of 7-17-1 this season is certainly not indicative of its play this season. The number of shots on goal in a game is a good indicator of the territorial play in the game. If the shots were fairly even, than usually the game was fairly even. However, in Air Force's case, the Falcons have controlled the possession time and have dominated the shots on goal category. The Falcons have out-shot their opponents in 18 of the 25 games this season and have won just seven of those games. The opponent has only out-shot Air Force seven times all season and has won all seven. Air Force has out-shot its opponent in 10 of the last 11 games and has a 3-7 record in those contests. In 23 games this season, the Falcons have out-shot the opponents by a total of 126 shots (776-650).
It Comes Down to Special Teams and Goaltending: Special teams and goaltending often determine the out-come of games. Despite the shot differential this season, the Falcons' special teams and goaltending have struggled. The Air Force power play, which is much improved over the last 12 games, ranks 46th in the nation out of 59 teams at 14.7 percent. The penalty kill is last at 76.8 percent. The team's saves percentage of 85.1 is last in the nation as the NCAA average is approximately 90.5. The team's saves percentage is the lowest in the last 10 years at Air Force.
Reese On Fire: Junior winger Brian Reese has been on fire recently. Prior to the Robert Morris series, Feb. 3-4, Reese had scored just two goals in 57 career games. However, beginning with the Robert Morris game on Feb. 4, Reese has scored six goals in his last four games. He had one in the second game at Robert Morris and then scored three in the Niagara series. He scored one in the first game at Niagara to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead in the third period. AFA won the game, 3-2. Reese then scored two power-play goals in the second game at Niagara to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead in the first period. AFA lost the game, 6-2. Two days later, he scored two goals in the 3-2 overtime win over RIT. His first goal was a tip-in from the top of the crease on the power play to give AFA a 2-0 lead. His second goal was the game-winner in overtime as he skated down the left wing and found the net with a blistering wrister.
On Deck: Air Force returns home to play four straight against Alabama-Huntsville, Feb. 17-18 and then Robert Morris, Feb. 24-25.
Last Week: Air Force earned its first road victory of the season and took two of three on a five-day road trip to western New York. The Falcons split a two-game, CHA series with Niagara. AFA won the first game, 3-2, while Niagara won the second game, 6-2. After a day off, the Falcons defeated RIT, 3-2 in overtime, in a non-conference road game
Falcons drop game two to the Crusaders
Saturday, November 15
Holy Cross tops Air Force Friday night
Friday, November 14
Air Force beats Bentley 4-1
Saturday, January 11
Frank Serratore Press Concerence - Jan. 6th, 2025
Monday, January 06
