Air Force Academy
American International
Falcons complete sweep with 3-1 win over AIC
2/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force earned it fourth series sweep of the season as the Falcons defeated AIC, 3-1, in an Atlantic Hockey Conference game Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force improved to 13-17-3, 12-10-2 in the conference. AIC fell to 3-22-7 overall and 3-16-7 in the league.
The game was scoreless until late in the first period when Erik Baskin took a pass from Tyler Ledford and carried the puck into the zone. Baskin skated around the net and fed Tyler Rostenkowski at the left point. Rostenkowski's blast caromed off an AIC defenseman and into the net for his first career goal at 16:26.
Late in the second period, AIC had a 2-on-1 breakaway led by Jason Popek. Popek's wrister from the right circle tied the game at 1-1 at 19:06 of the second period.
Early in the third period, Rostenkowski took a shot from the point that was wide and A.J. Reid's shot was saved. Erik Baskin cleaned up the rebound for his 10th of the season. With just under two minutes left in the third, the Yellow Jackets attempted to pull the goaltender with the puck at the Air Force blue line. But just as Alex Murray was skating toward his bench, Chad Demers poked the puck to Cole Gunner in the neutral zone and Gunner sent the puck into the open net before Murray could get back to the crease. Gunner's 12th of the season gave the Falcons a 3-1 lead with 1:24 remaining. AIC again pulled its goalie in the final 55 seconds, but was unable to score.
Air Force outshot AIC, 33-16, in the game and, 75-30, in the series. Both teams were 0-for-4 on the power play. Chris Truehl made 15 saves for the Falcons while Alex Murray made 30 for the Yellow Jackets.
" AIC played a good road game tonight after what happened last night," head coach Frank Serratore said. "They kept bodies back and made it difficult on us. We knew we would need to get a greasy goal and we got one to take the lead in the third. I really like the spirit of our team. This group is really together and playing hard."
Air Force travels to Niagara for a two-game conference series, Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21.
--30—
