Air Force Academy
Nebraska-Omaha
No. 1 Omaha holds off Air Force, 4-2
10/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Top-ranked Omaha built a 3-0 lead and held off Air Force for a 4-2 victory in a non-conference college hockey game, Friday, Oct. 23, at the brand new Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb.
In a fast-paced first period, each team had several scoring chances, but it was the Mavericks that scored the only goal. UNO (5-0-0 overall) controlled the puck in the zone and Joel Messner's point shot was tipped in by Steven Spinner at 14: 28 of the first period.
The Mavericks scored two goals in the second period for a 3-0 lead. On the power play, Maverick Tyler Vesel had the puck in the left circle and found Jake Randolph wide open on the back door for a 2-0 lead at 5:30 of the second period. Then late in the second, the Mavericks struck again. On the rush, Jake Guentzel found Austin Ortega coming down the right side with speed. Ortega tipped in his sixth goal of the season for a 3-0 advantage.
The Falcons (1-3-1 overall) got on the board early in the third period when Jordan Himley picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, fended off a defender down the left wing and scored with a wrister at 5:31. Just over three minutes later, the Mavericks answered when Spinner scored his second of the game on a breakaway. Air Force cut the UNO lead to 4-2 with 6:20 remaining with some quick puck movement down low. Erik Baskin fed Tyler Ledford in the slot who one-touched to Ben Kucera at the bottom of the right circle. Kucera's first of the season brought the Falcons' to within two goals. Air Force pulled the goalie in the final two minutes, but was unable to score.
Air Force outshot Omaha, 30-27. Omaha was 1-for-3 on the power play while Air Force 0-for-2. Kirk Thompson made 28 saves for UNO while Falcon freshman Shane Starrett had 23.
"This was a special occasion for me having coached here in juniors several years back," head coach Frank Serratore said of the opening of Baxter Arena. "The common denominator through all the years of hockey here in Omaha is the fans. This might be the best hockey town outside of the major markets. I am very pleased that we were able to be a part of it. As for the game, Omaha has scored a bunch of goals early in their games and we wanted to make it through the first period. We wanted to get the lead, but we didn't and then we got behind 3-0. Before the third period, we said let's go out and get a goal and then we can pull the goalie at the end and see what happens. We played well in the third. I like our team. We played hard and with spirit. I'm really proud of our guys."
The same two teams conclude the two-game series on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:07 pm CT in Omaha.
