Bowery's goal lifts Falcons to 2-1 win over Lakers

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Marshall Bowery's goal with 3:07 remaining lifted Air Force to a 2-1 win over Mercyhurst in an Atlantic Hockey game Saturday, Feb. 22, on senior night at the Cadet Ice Arena. With the win, Air Force took five points in the series and ended its nine-game winless skid.

In a scoreless first period, Falcon goalie Alex Schilling had to make one of the best saves of his career. On a rush, Laker forward Ethan Johnson took a shot that was headed into some open net behind Schilling. The Falcon sophomore goalie reached back with his stick to make the save and then covered up to keep the game scoreless.

Air Force (9-17-6, 9-11-6 AHA) lit the lamp in the second period for a 1-0 lead. Matt Pulver won a stick battle on the wall and Ty Pochipinski controlled the puck behind the net. Pochipinski set up Blake Bride in front and the freshman scored his fourth of the season at 7:21. Mercyhurst (5-25-2, 3-21-2 AHA) answered on a power play three minutes later as Justin Cmunt's wrister from the top of the right circle snuck through traffic at 10:45.
With five minutes remaining and the score tied at 1-1, the Falcons killed off a Laker power play without giving up a single shot. Shortly after, Luke Rowe gave the puck to Brady Tomlak behind the net. Tomlak setup Bowery out front who scored his ninth of the season at 16:53. With 54 seconds remaining, the Lakers pulled the goalie in favor of the extra attacker, but were unable to find the equalizer.

Air Force outshot Mercyhurst, 42-21, in the game and 86-26 in the series. The Falcons were 0-for-2 on the power play while Mercyhurst was 1-for-3. Alex Schilling made 20 saves for the Falcons while Garrett Metcalf made 40 saves.

"This was just what the doctored ordered," Frank Serratore said. "We needed this badly. We hadn't won a game in a month and we needed these points, especially here at home. After Schilling made what could be the save of the year, we settled down and managed the game pretty well. We had our shots and we attacked the net, but their goalie stopped everything."

Air Force closes out the regular season on the road as the Falcons face RIT, Feb. 28-29, in Rochester, N.Y.

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