Gunner scores in OT as Air Force beats AIC, 2-1

Jan. 23, 2015

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - With 57 seconds left in overtime, Cole Gunner scored to lift Air Force to a 2-1 win over AIC in an Atlantic Hockey Conference game, Friday, Jan. 23, at the Olympia Ice Center in Springfield, Mass. Air Force extended its winning streak to five games as the Falcons improved to 10-13-3 overall and 9-6-2 in the league. AIC fell to 3-17-5 overall and 3-10-5 in the league. Air Force moved into fifth place in the conference with 20 points.

AIC outshot Air Force, 4-0 in the first three minutes before the Falcons registered the next seven shots. After one period, each team had nine shots on goal.

Late in the second period, Air Force got on the board when senior Scott Holm scored his team-leading 12^th goal of the season. Kyle Mackey sent the puck up the wall to Jonathan Kopacka on the half boards. Kopacka's centering shot went off of Holm and into the net for a 1-0 lead at 14:22.

Late in the third period, AIC tied the game after a Falcon turnover in its own end. Austin Orszulak fed Johno May in the slot and May netted his fifth of the season with 1:52 left in the third.

In overtime, Air Force's top line had several quality chances that were turned away by AIC goalie Hunter Leisner. With just under a minute left, a puck popped free and Alex Halloran sent it toward the net. Gunner netted his second overtime game-winner of the season with 57 seconds left in overtime for the 2-1 Falcon win.

Air Force outshot AIC, 38-28, in the game. Leisner made 36 saves for the Yellow Jackets. Falcon freshman Connor Girard, in his second career start, made a career-high 27 saves in the game. AFA was 0-for-3 on the power play while AIC was 0-for-2. With the win, Air Force improved to 4-1-3 in overtime this season.

"This was a really entertaining hockey game," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We got off to a slow start and Connor Girard made some really good saves for us in the first three minutes. AIC had good energy tonight and they made some plays. This was a well-played and well-officiated game. We have been a pretty good overtime team this season."

The same two teams conclude the two-game conference series on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 7:05 pm ET in Springfield, Mass.

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