Air Force Academy
Holy Cross
Holy Cross beats Air Force, 3-1
1/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
WORCESTER, Mass. - Holy Cross scored a goal in each period in a 3-1 win over Air Force in an Atlantic Hockey Conference game, Saturday, Jan. 3, at the Hart Center in Worcester, Mass. Air Force falls to 5-13-3 overall and 4-6-2 for ninth place in the AHC. Holy Cross improved to 8-6-5 overall and 7-1-5 and in second place in the league.
Holy Cross opened the scoring as defenseman Jake Bolton scored with a slap shot from the center point at 14:42. Air Force turned the puck over in its own end and Logan Smith sent the puck to Matt Vidal who set up Bolton at the point. Late in the period, Falcon center Chad Demers was called for a five-minute major for boarding. In the first two minutes, the Crusaders hit a post and had five shots on goal, but Chris Truehl was there to make the saves. Air Force killed off the Crusader power play as Truehl made seven saves in five minutes.
In the second period, Holy Cross took a 2-0 lead as Bolton's point shot through traffic was saved, but T.J. Moore was there to put back the rebound at the 12:29 mark.
Air Force cut the Holy Cross lead to 2-1 at 11:45 of the third period. Cole Gunner threaded a pass through the slot to Scott Holm on the back door for the Falcons' first goal of the game. Holm netted his team-leading ninth goal of the season as Chad Demers also assisted on the play. Just over two minutes later, the Crusaders had an odd-man rush and capitalized as Ryan Ferrill gave the home team a 3-1 lead. Air Force pulled its goaltender in the final three minutes and created several scoring chances, but was unable to light the lamp.
The Falcons outshot the Crusaders, 16-5, in the third period and 26-22 in the game. AFA was 0-for-3 on the power play while HC was 0-for-4. Matt Ginn made 25 saves while Chris Truehl made 19 for the Falcons.
"Holy Cross is a good hockey team," head coach Frank Serratore. "They are a big, strong, heavy team that just wears you out. I was a little worried we were getting worn down, but we rallied in the third period. We had to overcome some adversity, some of it self-inflicted, by killing off penalties early. Give them the credit. They are a well-coached team that is difficult to play against. Their goaltending is very good and they don't beat themselves. We only scored two goals on the weekend and the margin of error is very thin when you do that. We are just not good enough right now. This is tough, but the morale is good and this is a proud bunch. We will keep battling to get through it."
Air Force returns home for its first home game since Nov. 22 as the Falcons host conference foe Niagara, Friday-Saturday, Jan. 9-10, at 7:05 each night from the Cadet Ice Arena.
--30--
.
