Air Force Academy
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Western Michigan
Falcons tie No. 18 Western Michigan, 5-5
11/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Air Force and No. 18 Western Michigan skate to a 5-5 overtime tie in a non-conference college hockey game on Friday, Nov. 18, at Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich. The game was tied after 65 minutes, but the teams played a 3-on-3 overtime per NCHC protocol, and the Broncos scored with 45 seconds left on a goal by Aaron Hadley.
The Broncos (6-3-2 overall) struck quickly as Griffen Molino skated across to the high slot and snapped in a wrister at 1:18. Just over three minutes later, the Falcons tied the game. Kyle Haak drew a penalty and Evan Giesler scored at 4:59. Kyle Mackey's point shot was saved, but Giesler put back the rebound on the power play. Forty-one seconds later, WMU went ahead when Chris Dienes scored on a tough angle shot at 5:40. The Falcons again answered on the power play after Mackey drew a penalty. Dan Bailey fed Phil Boje at the right point who fired a shot past Trevor Gorsuch at 11:26. The Broncos scored the next two goals as Wade Allison scored on a rebound of his own shot at 12:26. Then with 1:25 left in the first, Hugh McGling scored a power-play goal. Sheldon Dries made a pass from behind the net and McGling scored his first career goal.
Sophomore Billy Christopoulos replaced Shane Starrett in goal to start the second period and made several saves early in the second. Air Force cut the WMU lead to 4-3 with a short-handed goal at 7:02. Kyle Haak carried the puck out of the zone and set up Jordan Himley coming down the center of the ice. Himley netted his fifth of the season and the first shortie of his career. The Broncos regained their two-goal lead with a power-play goal at 13:02. Molino scored his second of the game with a backdoor tap in from Taylor Fleming. With just under three minutes left in the second period, Dan Bailey scored from Giesler and Himley. Bailey's point shot hit the far post and then caromed off the goalie and into the net at 17:25.
Air Force (6-3-2 overall) outshot Western Michigan, 13-4, in the third period and scored the only goal to tie the game. After a timeout, Brady Tomlak won a faceoff in the offensive zone and Pierce Pluemer put the puck on net. Freshman Matt Pulver scored his first collegiate goal on the rebound with 5:24 left.
Western Michigan outshot Air Force, 4-1, in the 5-on-5 overtime, but the game remained tied. In the 3-on-3 overtime, Air Force's Kyle Mackey was pulled down going to the net, giving the Falcons a 4-on-3 power play. Despite several shot attempts, Air Force was unable to score and once back to even strength, the Broncos came in on the rush and Hadley scored with 45 seconds left to end the game.
"We had holes in our game, especially early," head coach Frank Serratore said. "But give our guys credit. They showed a lot spirit and perseverance. We won the second and third periods and we had some great looks in the three-on-three overtime. They have a lot of speed and skill up front. Good thing we scored a couple on the power play in the first period. There are good ties and bad ties, but tonight was a good tie."
Air Force and Western Michigan conclude the two-game series on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 8:05 pm ET in Kalamazoo.
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