Big third period leads Falcons to win over Holy Cross

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Big third period leads Air Force to a 7-2 win over Holy Cross in an Atlantic Hockey Association game Friday, Dec. 6, at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force scored five goals in the third period to take game one in the series. Four different Air Force defensemen scored goals as the Falcon blueliners combined for 10 points in the game.

With the win, head coach Frank Serratore collected his 400^th win at Air Force. He becomes just the seventh active coach in NCAA hockey to reach the mark with a Falcon record of 400-358-88 in his 23^rd season at the Academy.

Holy Cross (3-9-3, 2-8-1 AHA) scored first as Alex Peterson netted his fourth of the season. Nick Hale's stretch pass came down the left side into the Air Force end. Falcon goalie came out to play puck, but Peterson caught up to it behind the goal line. His shot, from behind the line, went off an Air Force defenseman and into the net at 5:23. Air Force tied the game at 9:57 when freshman defenseman Andrew Kruse scored his first career goal. His point shot ricocheted through traffic and slid under the pads of Matt Radomsky. Alex Mehnert and Ty Pochipinski assisted on the play. The Crusaders took a 2-1 lead on the power play at 14:17. Mike Higgins attempted a pass through the slot that hit an Air Force defenseman and came back to the near post. With Schilling sliding to his left, Pete Kessel collected the puck and netted his fourth of the season.

Air Force (5-8-2, 5-4-2 AHA) scored the only goal of the second period. Just two seconds after a Falcon power play expired, Zach Mirageas whistled a shot from the center point to tie the game at 11: 31. Mehnert and Matt Pulver collected helpers on the play.

The Falcons erupted for five goals in the third period. Matt Pulver got the Falcon offense going just 1:33 into the third period when he scored on a rebound of his own shot. Carter Ekberg and goalie Alex Schilling assisted. Freshman defenseman Brandon Koch scored his first career goal at 3:28 on the power play. His shot from the point was assisted by Mirageas and Marshall Bowery for a 4-2 lead. Bowery then gave the Falcons a 5-2 lead on the rush. Koch started the rush in his own end and Luke Manning carried the puck down the right wing. Willie Reim's shot was saved but Bowery put back the rebound at 7:31. The fourth Air Force defenseman to score was Jake Levin with a shot from high at the right point at 12:43. His second of the season, assisted by Mehnert and Max Harper, snuck just inside the far post. Senior Brady Tomlak rounded out the scoring at 15:55. Pulver won a puck behind his own net and Mirageas made a pass from deep in his own end to Tomlak at the far blue line. Tomlak scored his fifth of the season on the breakaway.

Air Force outshot Holy Cross, 25-20, in the game. Matt Radomsky started the game and made 15 shots while allowing five goals for the visitors. Beau Collins played the final 12 minutes and stopped three of the five shots he faced. Alex Schilling made 18 saves for the Falcons and stopped the final 13 shots he saw. Air Force was 1-for-6 on the power play while HC was 1-for-4.

"What a wonderful third period we played," head coach Frank Serratore said. "If we can play all three periods like we did the third, I like our chances. We played a simple, smart game in the third. I can't remember a game when four different defensemen scored goals in the game. Alex Schilling was good for us again. He is such a cool customer and has a short memory. I thought our legs were better all night and it showed in the third."

The same two teams conclude the series on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 5:05 pm MT at the Cadet Ice Arena.

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