Falcons advance to championship with 7-1 win over St. Lawrence

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Air Force scored a season-high four power-play goals in a 7-1 win over St. Lawrence in the first round of the Ice Vegas Invitational, Friday, Jan. 4, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Air Force (11-7-1 overall) advances to the championship game and will face Western Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 5, at 8:30 pm PT.

Air Force drew first blood on the power play in the first period. Matt Koch's shot from the center point was redirected by Kyle Haak for a 1-0 lead at 7:04 of the first period.

The Falcons added a second power play goal of the game for a 2-0 lead in the second period. Haak's shot from the left circle was saved, but Giesler put back the rebound on the back door at 10:19. Feno collected his second assist of the night.

Air Force scored five goals in the third period, two of them on the power play. Giesler's second of the night came on the power play at 2:03 as he put back a rebound of Kyle Haak's shot. Leading 3-0, a major penalty was called on Air Force's Brady Tomlak, but the Falcon penalty kill got the job done. Air Force allowed just two shots on goal on the power play and, once back to even strength, the Falcons pulled away. Freshman Kieran Durgan tipped in a centering from Dan Bailey at 11:32 for a 4-0 advantage. Twenty-six seconds later, Feno collected a loose puck at the bottom of the right circle and snapped a wrister through the five-hole at 11:58. On the power play, Haak scored his second of the game as he again redirected a point shot by Koch at 12:49 for a 6-0 lead. The Saints got on the board on the rush as Cade Gleekel tipped in a centering pass from Andrew McIntyre at 13:41. With four seconds left in the game, Walker Sommer scored his fourth of the season to make up the final margin.

The Falcons outshot the Saints, 30-18. Air Force was 4-for-5 on the power play and killed all three of the Saints' man-advantages. Billy Christopoulos made 17 saves for the Falcons. Daniel Mannella started for the Saints and made 20 saves, allowing five goals in 52 minutes. Arthur Brey played the final eight minutes and made three saves on five shots.

Feno had a career high five points in the game, while Haak had four and Giesler had three.

"Our power-play came through for us tonight," head coach Frank Serratore. "We needed to get the lead on them and we did. We couldn't afford to get behind them and allow them to defend a lead. I'm happy we are heading to the championship game, but we are going to have to be better tomorrow night. Western Michigan has a really good team. They are fast and they are skilled."

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