Air Force beats Lindenwood, 7-3

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – Sophomores Will Gavin and Parker Brown each had four points to lead Air Force to a 7-3 win over Lindenwood in a college hockey exhibition game, Sunday, Oct. 24, at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo.

For the first time this season, Air Force scored the first goal of the game at 11:01 of the first period. Brown gained the zone down the right side and feathered a short pass to Gavin. Gavin collected the puck in the slot and scored over the blocker of LU goalie Stephen Friedland. Two minutes later, that same Falcon combination scored again. Brown created a steal in the Lion end and his shot was saved. Gavin put back the rebound for his second of the night at 13:01. Freshman Clayton Cosentino scored his third of the series with 5:14 left in the first. After winning a faceoff in the offensive zone, Gavin set up Cosentino, who made a couple quick moves in tight and scored for a 3-0 lead.

Freshman Mitchell Digby weaved his way through the neutral zone and his shot was saved. Gavin collected the puck behind the net and set up Digby in front for a 4-0 lead at 6:28. The Falcons took a 5-0 lead when Brian Adams tipped in a point shot by Luke Robinson at 11:05. Lindenwood then scored two goals in a span of 12 seconds. Max Helgeson scored both goals. His first coming on a flurry in front at 17:55 and his second coming right off of the center ice faceoff with a wrister from the left circle at 18:07. Air Force answered as freshman Lucas Coon followed up a rebound of his own shot with five seconds left in the second.

The Falcons took a 7-2 lead when Cosentino sent a one-timer wide of the net and Brown tapped it in on the back door at 8:02. Lion Hayden Ursulak scored on the rush at 13:16 to make up the final margin.

Air Force outshot Lindenwood, 46-36, in the game. The Falcons were 0-for-5 on the power play and killed both of the Lions' man-advantages. Balboa started the game for the Falcons and made 26 saves. Freshman Guy Blessing saw his first collegiate action, playing the third period and making seven saves.

"We played a really disciplined first period," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Gavin and Brown's line put up the points, but the way we played, you couldn't tell the difference between our top line and our fourth line. The key for us is having all four lines play hard and within our structure. We need to do what we do and do it well. This series was all about us and our preparation for Colorado College next week."

Air Force (1-3-0 overall this season) returns to Colorado Springs for a two-game series against Colorado College. The Falcons and Tigers meet on Friday, Oct. 29, at the Cadet Ice Arena and then on Saturday, Oct. 30, at Robson Arena in Colorado Springs.

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Players Mentioned

Brian Adams

Guy Blessing

Parker Brown

Lucas Coon

Clayton Cosentino

Mitchell Digby

Will Gavin

Luke Robinson

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