No. 17 Falcons defeat Alaska in season opener

Oct. 7, 2017

FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Billy Christopoulos made 32 saves and Brady Tomlak scored the game-winner as No. 17 Air Force defeated Alaska, 3-2, in a non-conference college hockey game, Friday, Oct. 6, at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Air Force (1-0) jumped out to the early lead with a power-play goal in the first period. Matt Koch and Jonathan Kopacka executed a perfect give-and-go play as Koch scored the season's first goal from the bottom of the left circle.

Early in the second, the Falcons again scored on the power play. After Matt Pulver drew a penalty, the Falcons capitalized. Tyler Ledford stick-handled through traffic and found a wide open Erik Baskin on the weak side. Koch picked up his second point of the game as the Falcons led 2-0. About three minutes later, the Nanooks answered. Just after a UA power play ended, defenseman Tristan Thompson scored with a wrister from the top of the left circle. Alaska outshot Air Force, 12-5, in the second period.

On the first shift of the third period, Alaska tied the game. Air Force turned the puck over in the neutral zone and Nanook Zach Frye skated in uncontested to tie the game at 2-2 just 11 seconds into the third period. Air Force regained the lead on the rush as Even Giesler made a centering pass to Brady Tomlak who was coming down the slot with speed. Tomlak caught the pass, turned and fired high, glove side, for a 3-2 lead at 4:38 of the third. Coming down the stretch, the Falcons had to kill two Nanook power plays to preserve the victory.

"We found a way to win and had to deal with a lot of adversity, some of that was our own fault," head coach Frank Serratore said. "UAF out-worked us in the second period. Then they scored early in the third to tie the game, but I think they expended a lot of energy and then we kind of took the game over. When you have to overcome some adversity and then come back to win the game, sometimes that's a blessing in disguise. When you find a way to win those game, it does build confidence. Our guys rose to the challenge, killed the penalties and found a way to get it done. There were several times when we needed a save and we got them. Billy played a great game and that was very encouraging."

Alaska (0-1) outshot Air Force, 34-26, in the game. The Falcons were 2-for-5 on the power play while UA was 0-for-7.

Air Force and Alaska conclude the two-game series on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 7:07 pm AT (9:07 pm MT).

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