Reim nets game-winner in 3-1 win over Mercyhurst

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force came from behind for a 3-1 win over Mercyhurst in the first game of the Atlantic Hockey playoffs, Friday, March 6, at the Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

In the first two minutes of the game, freshman defenseman Luke Rowe's shot on the rush caromed off the post. Mercyhurst's first shot on goal came seven minutes into the game as the Falcons had a 5-0 shot advantage. The Lakers scored the only goal of the period with 4:48 remaining on the rush. Josh McDougall's centering pass from low on the right wing went through the crease and fellow defenseman Carver Watson collected the puck on the weak side. With Schilling down on the ice, Watson sent high, inside the far post for his third goal of the season.

Air Force (11-18-6 overall) tied the game with 36 seconds left in the second period. Dalton Weigel's shot was saved and Marshall Bowery put back the rebound at 19:24. Willie Reim also assisted on the play as Bowery picked up his team-leading 10^th goal of the season.

Early in the second period, Matt Pulver drew a penalty and the Falcons capitalized on the power play. Luke Rowe and Bowery took shots that were saved creating chaos in front of the Laker net. Willie Reim put back the rebound, his fifth goal of the season, for a 2-1 lead at 6:21. Mercyhurst pulled its goalie with 1:12 remaining in the third and then a penalty on Air Force gave the Lakers a 6-on-4 advantage. On the ensuing faceoff, Brady Tomlak won the draw and Jake Levin pushed the puck off the wall. Tomlak then sent the puck from his own end, about 185 feet, into the empty net with 35 seconds remaining.

"This team is resilient," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Our penalty kill stepped up for and Schilling was good. Metcalf was outstanding for them again. He made us work for what we got. Bowery's goal in the last minute of the second period was huge. Winning the first game of a short series is huge. But there is nothing more difficult in sports than ending someone's season. If we thought tonight was hard, tomorrow will be ever harder."

Air Force outshot Mercyhurst 40-17, in the game. The Falcons were 1-for-2 on the power play and killed all five of the Laker man-advantages. Garrett Metcalf made 37 saves for the Lakers (5-28-2), and Alex Schilling made 16 for the Falcons.

Game two of this best-of-three playoff series will be Saturday, March, 7, at 7:05 pm MT at the Cadet Ice Arena. An Air Force win would send the Falcons to the AHA quarterfinals at RIT, March 13-15, in Rochester, N.Y. A Mercyhurst win would mean the Falcons and Lakers will play game three on Sunday, March 8, at 7:05 pm MT at the Cadet Ice Arena.

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