Air Force Academy
Niagara University
Falcons blank Niagara, 3-0
1/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
WATCH: Highlights | WATCH: Serratore post-game | Box Score 
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. Shane Starrett, the reigning Atlantic Hockey Conference Goalie of the Week, earned his second shutout in his last three outings, as the Air Force Falcons defeated the Niagara Purple Eagles, 3-0, in a college hockey contest Friday, Jan. 22, at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena. Starrett stopped all 14 shots he faced and, with the win, improved to 7-7-3 on the season.
Air Force will close out its home set with conference opponent Niagara Saturday, Jan. 23, with puck drop set for 5:05 p.m. MT.
Despite the final score, the game remained close for much of the night. The Falcons' fourth line notched the game-winner and the only goal scored in the first 55 minutes of play at just 1:57 of the first frame. Freshman Evan Okeley forced a turnover behind the Niagara net and junior center Tyler Rostenkowski score d his third of the season. Rostenkowski found a bouncing puck in the high slot and kicked it toward the blade of his stick before rifling it past Niagara goaltender Jackson Teichroeb to give Air Force a 1-0 lead.
The Falcons (11-9-3, 9-5-3 AHC) continued to pepper Teichroeb throughout the night, outshooting the Eagles 45-14 in the contest. Air Force has outshot its opponents 344-187 over the course of its last nine games, going 6-2-1 in that span.
Late in the third period, Air Forced pulled away on a man-advantage opportunity. The Falcons converted on a give-and-go play between sophomore forwards Evan Baskin and Tyler Ledford, who worked the puck out of the corner to set up Baskin for his seventh of the year from the right circle at 15:39 of the frame. The second-year winger has five goals in his last five games.
With 1:22 left in the third, Niagara pulled its goaltender in favor of the extra skater. Sophomore Ben Kucera collected a loose puck deep in his own zone and ripped an empty net goal with 11 seconds left to seal the 3-0 final.
Air Force finished 1-for-5 on the power play, while Niagara (3-17-2, 3-12-1 AHC) was held scoreless on two attempts.
Teichroeb took the loss in net for the Eagles, turning aside 42-of-44 shots faced.
"We played a sound team game tonight," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Boy did we need that power play goal. Our power play has been relatively ineffective recently and that power play goal was so important. They found a way to score a huge goal for us. We have to attack the net on the power play just like we do even strength."
