Saturday, November 10
USAFA, Colo.
7:35 p.m. MT
Air Force Academy
6-4-0,6-2-0AHC
4
vs
1
Bentley University
2-6-1,2-4-1AHC
1
2
3
F
Bentley
1
0
0
1
Air Force Falcons
1
1
2
4
Air Force sweeps Bentley with 4-1 win
11/10/2018 10:34:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Sophomore Zach LaRocque made 12 saves in his second career start and the Air Force penalty kill was perfect in a 4-1 win over Bentley in an Atlantic Hockey Conference game Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force has now won five straight games and improved to 6-4-0 overall and sits atop the conference standings at 6-2-0 in league play.
The five-game winning streak is the tied as the second-longest active streak in the nation and longest by the Falcons since early in the 2016-17 season.
In a first period filled with penalties, the teams each scored a goal in the final three minutes. Bentley took its first lead of the series on the rush as Brendan Hamblet put back a rebound of Jake Kauppila's shot at 16:49. The Falcons answered on the power play. Walker Sommer's shot from the left circle was saved, but was loose under the pads of Bentley goalie Aiden Pelino. Even Giesler tapped the loose puck in at 18:42 for his second of the weekend and third of the series. Matt Koch also assisted on the play.
Air Force took the lead midway through the second period. Junior Matt Pulver forced a turnover at the Bentley blue line, cut to the middle and snapped a wrister top corner for his second of the season at 8:42.
Early in the third period, freshman Kieran Durgan scored his fifth of the season for a 3-1 lead at 5:35. Marshall Bowery gave the puck to Jake Levin at the right point. Levin's shot was saved, but Durgan put back the rebound. Late in the period, Bentley (2-6-1 overall, 2-4-1 AHC) pulled its goalie and the Falcons found the empty-net. Kyle Haak intercepted a pass on the wall in his own end and sent the puck 175-feet to seal the victory.
Air Force outshot Bentley, 32-13, in the game. AF was 1-for-8 on the power play while killing all seven Bentley power plays.
"This was as good of a three-period performance as we have had, and that says a lot," head coach Frank Serratore said. "They were better in the first period and got the first goal, but we didn't give them much all night. I am very impressed with our game right now, especially since we have some key players out of the lineup. I could not be more proud of the guys."
Air Force travels to Springfield, Mass., for a two-game series with AIC, Friday-Saturday, Nov. 16-17.
--30—
The five-game winning streak is the tied as the second-longest active streak in the nation and longest by the Falcons since early in the 2016-17 season.
In a first period filled with penalties, the teams each scored a goal in the final three minutes. Bentley took its first lead of the series on the rush as Brendan Hamblet put back a rebound of Jake Kauppila's shot at 16:49. The Falcons answered on the power play. Walker Sommer's shot from the left circle was saved, but was loose under the pads of Bentley goalie Aiden Pelino. Even Giesler tapped the loose puck in at 18:42 for his second of the weekend and third of the series. Matt Koch also assisted on the play.
Air Force took the lead midway through the second period. Junior Matt Pulver forced a turnover at the Bentley blue line, cut to the middle and snapped a wrister top corner for his second of the season at 8:42.
Early in the third period, freshman Kieran Durgan scored his fifth of the season for a 3-1 lead at 5:35. Marshall Bowery gave the puck to Jake Levin at the right point. Levin's shot was saved, but Durgan put back the rebound. Late in the period, Bentley (2-6-1 overall, 2-4-1 AHC) pulled its goalie and the Falcons found the empty-net. Kyle Haak intercepted a pass on the wall in his own end and sent the puck 175-feet to seal the victory.
Air Force outshot Bentley, 32-13, in the game. AF was 1-for-8 on the power play while killing all seven Bentley power plays.
"This was as good of a three-period performance as we have had, and that says a lot," head coach Frank Serratore said. "They were better in the first period and got the first goal, but we didn't give them much all night. I am very impressed with our game right now, especially since we have some key players out of the lineup. I could not be more proud of the guys."
Air Force travels to Springfield, Mass., for a two-game series with AIC, Friday-Saturday, Nov. 16-17.
--30—
Team Stats
BEN
AF
Shots
13
32
PPG
0
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
8
7
Penalty Mins
16
14
Faceoffs Won
28
33
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
+2
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
G
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
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