Air Force Academy
Niagara University
Falcons come back for 2-1 win over Niagara
12/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force scored two third-period goals to come from behind for a 2-1 win over Niagara in an Atlantic Hockey Conference game Friday, Dec. 9, at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force improved to 8-6-3 overall and 5-3-1 in the AHC. Niagara fell to 2-12-3 overall and 2-7-2 in the league.
After a series of early penalties, the Purple Eagles had a 4-on-3 advantage and took a 1-0 lead. Kris Spriggs took a shot from the right circle that was redirected in front by Tanner Lomsnes at 12:21. Air Force outshot Niagara, 15-10, in the first period, but Purple Eagle goalie Guillaume Therien made all 15 stops.
Each team had six shots in the second period, but neither was able to score. Midway through the third period, the Falcons tied the game as junior Jordan Himley scored his team-leading ninth of the season. Kyle Haak made a centering pass to Himley whose one-timer from the slot tied the game at 1-1. Just over two minutes later, sophomore Evan Feno netted his first goal of the season, the eventual game-winner. Evan Giesler carried the puck deep in the zone and left it behind the net for Feno. Feno skated out from behind the net into the slot and scored through a Giesler screen at 11:05. With 4:39 left in the third, a five-minute major was called on Niagara's Larry Smith and the Falcons were on the power play for the rest of the game.
"We have a lot of guys who are working their tails off," head coach Frank Serratore said. "But have a few that are not on board with what we are doing. Until we get everyone on board, we are going to be an up and down team."
The same two teams conclude the two-game league series on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 5:05 p.m. MT at the Cadet Ice Arena.
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