Schilling leads Air Force to win over Bentley

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Alex Schilling made a career high 33 saves and Kieran Durgan scored two goals as Air Force defeated Bentley, 3-2, in an Atlantic Hockey Association game Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force swept the two-game series and has won three straight games.

Max Harper's third goal of the season gave Air Force the early lead. On the rush, Trevor Stone slid the puck behind the net and Brady Tomlak won the race. Tomlak's centering pass was fired in by Harper from the slot at 12:18.

Air Force took a 2-0 lead early in the second period as Durgan scored his first of the season on the rush. Zach Mirageas started the rush in his own end and Shawn Knowlton gained the red line. Durgan zipped a wrister in from the right circle at 1:13. Bentley roared back with two goals in a span of five minutes to tie the game. Matt Gosiewski scored on a flurry in front of Schilling at 10:34. With Air Force on the power play, Bentley's Jakov Novak intercepted a pass at the blue line and skated in uncontested on Schilling, tying the game at 2-2 with 4:25 left in the second.

Durgan broke the tie early in the third period with a power-play goal. Shawn Knowlton and Marshall Bowery took shots in tight that were saved. Durgan collected the puck behind the goal line and scored from a sharp angle at 2:36. Bentley outshot Air Force, 14-9, in the third period, but Schilling kept the net clean. Bentley pulled the goalie with 1:22 left, but was unable to score.

Bentley (3-6-0, 2-5-0 AHA) outshot Air Force, 35-25, in the game. Bentley goalie Jason Grande made 22 saves. Air Force was 1-for-3 on the power play while Bentley was 0-for-2.

"Bentley was better tonight," head coach Frank Serratore said. "They have a lot of skill and their compete level was at a much higher level. Our team has shown some resiliency. They came back and tied the game, but we found a way to get that third goal and gut this one out. We have a hot goaltender. Alex Schilling is one cool, calm cat."

Air Force (2-7-0, 2-3-0 AHA) is not idle and will play the next four games on road, at Robert Morris (Nov. 22-23) and at Niagara (Nov. 29-30).

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