Falcons sweep RIT with 3-2 win in series finale

Feb. 18, 2017

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Kyle Haak had a goal and an assist as Air Force defeated RIT, 3-2, in an Atlantic Hockey Conference game Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Gene Polisseni Center in Rochester, N.Y. The Falcons swept the two-game series and improved to 21-8-5 overall and 18-5-3 in the league. With the win, the Falcons remain in second place in the AHC, but moved within one point of Canisius with one game in hand. On the final weekend of the regular season, Canisius will play just one game while Air Force will play two at home against Sacred Heart, Feb. 24-25.

The sweep was the first ever for the Falcons at RIT.

The Falcons jumped on the board early as Haak scored unassisted at 1:14. At his own blue line, Haak lifted the stick of a Tiger player, took the puck away and then roofed a back-hand over the shoulder of RIT goalie Mike Rotolo.

RIT started the second period on the power play and scored just 13 seconds into the period. Myles Powell slid the puck through the slot and Liam Kerins tied the game with a one-timer from the right circle. Midway through the period, the Falcons regained the lead. Matt Serratore made a move behind the net and set up Jordan Himley in front. Himley's first shot was saved, but he put back his own rebound for his team-leading 16^th of the season.

Early in the third period, freshman Trevor Stone scored on the power play for a 3-1 lead. Senior Johnny Hrabovsky carried the puck into the zone and drew the defender as he made the pass to his right. Stone's one-timer from the right circle was his fifth of the season. Later in the period, RIT's Garrett McMullen took a shot from high on the left point that bounced off an Air Force defenseman and into the net to make the score 3-2 at 12:50. In the final minutes, the Falcons kept the puck in the RIT end, not allowing the Tigers to pull their goaltender.

Air Force outshot RIT, 31-20, in the game. Shane Starrett made 18 saves for the Falcons while Mike Rotolo made 28 for the Tigers. Air Force was 1-for6 on the power play while RIT was 1-for-4.

"We played really, really well," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We won 3-2, but we could have had a few more. If there was anything at all to be critical about is that we missed on some opportunities. But overall, great win and great weekend. It was great to have a strong Saturday night. We have a big series next weekend with a chance to win the regular season title."

Air Force returns home for a two-game league series against the Sacred Heart Pioneers, Friday-Saturday, Feb. 24-25, at the Cadet Ice Arena. Friday's game will start at 7:05 pm MT while Saturday's game will start at 5:05 pm.

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