Air Force Academy
Bentley
Falcons hold off Bentley for 3-2 win
1/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
WATCH: Highlights | WATCH: Serratore post-game interview | Box Score
by Meredith Yeoman
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - The Air Force Falcons edged the visiting Bentley Falcons, 3-2, behind a three-goal second period goals in an Atlantic Hockey Conference matchup Saturday, Jan. 2, at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena.
Wingers Matt Serratore, Jordan Himley and Erik Baskin each found the net for the home team in the middle frame as Air Force (7-8-2, 5-4-2 AHC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held on for the victory. After a scoreless first period, defenseman Kyle Mackey's shot from the left point went off the skate of Matt Serratore and past Bentley goaltender Jayson Argue at 2:24 of the second to open the scoring in the contest. Himley added a power play goal at 15:35 of the frame, one-timing Johnny Hrabovsky's pass from the right circle to extend the Air Force advantage. Fifty seconds later, Baskin charged a loose rebound from Mackey's shot from the right circle and backhanded it home from the slot, giving Air Force a 3-0 lead.
Mackey finished the contest with two assists, while Himley has recorded nine points in his last nine games and leads Air Force in scoring with 11 points on the season.
Bentley (7-8-2, 5-5-2 AHC) added two goals in the final frame, but could not catch Air Force. Senior captain, Andrew Gladiuk, snuck a sharp angled shot from below the right circle past Air Force netminder Billy Christopoulos midway through the third period. After Bentley pulled its goalie, defenseman Matt Blomquist blasted a one-timer from the blue line with 1:02 to play in regulation to pull the visitors to within a goal.
Christopoulos stopped 27-of-29 shots faced to claim his third victory of the season, while Argue went 29-of-32, taking the loss in net for Bentley. Air Force finished 1-for-4 on the power play. Bentley was 0-for-3.
"This was a pretty evenly played game," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We were fortunate to get some bounces and go up 3-0 in the second. Then they got back in it in the third. We gave up that extra attacker goal, but more importantly, is how we responded. After they scored, we won the faceoff, took charge and didn't give them much."
