Falcons fall to Niagara, 3-2, in overtime

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Niagara's Ludwig Stenlund scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead the Purple Eagles to a 3-2 win over Air Force in game one of the best of three Atlantic Hockey Conference quarterfinal series, Friday, March 15, at the Cadet Ice Arena.

Air Force (16-14-5) drew first blood as Pierce Pluemer scored his first of the season just 1:58 into the game. Joe Tyran carried the puck around the net and Erich Jaeger set up Pluemer in the slot for a 1-0 lead. Niagara (15-18-5) answered late in the period on the power play. Noah Delmas gave the puck to Stenlund at the right point. His shot was redirected in front by Eric Cooley to tie the game at 13:43.

Niagara took its first lead of the game early in the second period. After Kris Spriggs hit the pipe from the slot, Stenlund put back the rebound 58 seconds into the second period for a 2-1 lead. The Falcons answered 50 seconds later. Evan Giesler sent the puck around the boards to Dan Bailey in the left circle, Bailey's wrister went over the pad, and under the glove, of Brian Wilson, to tie the game at 2-2 at 1:48.

Neither team scored for the next 38 minutes as the game went into overtime. In overtime, Niagara outshot Air Force, 6-1. Niko Kovachis' shot from the left point hit an Air Force defenseman in front and went to the back wall. Johnny Curran punched it free and Stenlund took a shot from the left circle. His shot, over the pad and under the glove, of Billy Christopoulos, just trickled over the goal line for the game winner at 7:38.

Air Force outshot Niagara, 38-23, in the game. Niagara was 1-for-4 on the power play while Air Force was 0-for-2. Wilson made 36 saves for the Purple Eagles while Christopoulos made 20 for the Falcons.

"We played a solid, fundamental game," head coach Frank Serratore said. "I liked our game tonight. We had plenty of chances and hit a couple pipes. We just didn't get any puck luck. That has been the story of our season in a lot of ways. If we can replicate this performance and bring it again on Saturday, I like our chances. We have to keep our heads up and come back strong tomorrow."

Game two of the best-of-three quarterfinal series is Saturday, March 16, at 7:05 pm MT at the Cadet Ice Arena.

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Team Stats

Dan Bailey

Pierce Pluemer

Brady Tomlak

Erich Jaeger

Players Mentioned

Dan Bailey

Billy Christopoulos

Evan Giesler

Erich Jaeger

Pierce Pluemer

Joe Tyran

Players Mentioned

Dan Bailey

Billy Christopoulos

Evan Giesler

Erich Jaeger

Pierce Pluemer

Joe Tyran

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