Falcons earn point in overtime loss to Sacred Heart

NIAGARA, N.Y. – Air Force came from behind to earn a point in the standings, but Sacred Heart scored the game-winner in overtime as the Pioneers defeated Air Force, 4-3, in an Atlantic Hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Dwyer Arena in Niagara, N.Y. The game was originally scheduled for Dec. 18 at the Academy, but was postponed.

Air Force (0-6-1, 0-6-1 AHA) opened the scoring on the power play early in the second period. Bennett Norlin won a faceoff to Shawn Knowlton at the right point. Knowlton slid the puck to Jake Levin who ripped a puck toward the net from the center point. Willie Reim redirected the shot for a 1-0 lead at 2:42. Sacred Heart (2-3-0, 1-2-0 AHA) answered with three goals in the final 13 minutes of the second period for a 3-1 lead. On the rush, Falcon goalie Zach LaRocque made two saves, but Grant Anderson put back the rebound to tie the game at 7:05. The Pioneers took a 2-1 lead at 13:51 on the rush when Marc Johnstone made a centering pass to Ryan Steele in the slot for his third of the season. Late in the period, SHU took a 3-1 lead on the power play. Austin Magera won a faceoff in the offensive zone and Braeden Tuck slid the puck from the goal line to the back door. Johnstone netted his first of the season at 17:58.

Down two goals, Air Force killed a penalty to start the third period and then cut the SHU lead to 3-2. Blake Bride controlled the puck behind the net and set up Will Gavin out front for his second goal of the season at 6:33. Late in the period, the Falcons pulled the goalie for the extra attacker with 2:16 remaining. After several flurries, a penalty was called on Air Force putting the faceoff in the Falcons' end and bringing LaRocque back on the ice. Freshman Thomas Daskas won the draw and Levin sent the puck off the boards and up ice. Norlin won the race to the puck behind the net, centering it back to Daskas. The freshman from Rochester, Mich., tied the game with 3.7 seconds left in regulation.

Air Force started the overtime session having to kill the remaining 1:47 of a penalty. After the kill, SHU forced a turnover in the neutral zone, setting up a 2-on-1. Anderson fed Tuck on the left side who skated into the middle and scored the game-winner.

The Falcons outshot the Pioneers, 15-3, in the third period and 36-27, in the game. AF was 1-for-5 on the power play while SHU was 1-for-6. LaRocque made 23 saves for the Falcons. Benson made 33 for the Pioneers.

"This was the most miraculous point we have ever earned," head coach Frank Serratore said, "We were down two goals to start the third and had to kill a penalty. We could not afford to give up another goal and our penalty kill was great. Then we found a way to get the next goal to make it 3-2. And then late in the game, we had to go the length of the ice in 14 seconds to score, short-handed, and we did. There was almost a story-book finish to this one, but we did take a huge step tonight. There was a lot to feel good about."

Air Force continues the five-game, 10-day road trip with a pair of conference games against Mercyhurst, Jan. 8-9, in Erie, Pa.

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