Falcons fall at Michigan State, 5-1

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State scored three power-play goals for a 5-1 win over Air Force in a non-conference game, Saturday, Oct. 9, at Munn Arena in East Lansing, Mich. The two teams split the two-game series.

Air Force (1-1-0) was called for three penalties, including a major, in the first nine minutes of the game and the Spartans capitalized. Spartan Griffin Loughran opened the scoring on the power play. Josh Nodler's shot was saved and the puck popped up into the air. Loughran batted the puck in for a 1-0 lead at 8:09. At 8:49 of the first period, a major penalty was called on Air Force's Will Gavin and MSU took a 2-0 lead on Loughran's second power-play goal of the game. In a 4-on-4 situation, Air Force tied the game after winning an offensive zone faceoff. Willie Reim won the draw and Brandon Koch set up Luke Rowe at the left point. Rowe's blast lit the lamp at 12:12 for his second goal of the series.

Late in the second period, MSU scored its third power-play goal of the game as Mitchell Lewandowski scored on a rebound on the back door at 16:22 for a 3-1 lead. Late in the third period, in a 4-on-4 situation, MSU's Dennis Cesana took a pass in the right circle and was all alone in front of the Falcon goal for a 4-1 lead with 4:30 remaining. Air Force pulled the goalie in the final two minutes, but Lewandowski scored an empty-netter with 68 seconds left.

Michigan State (1-1-0) outshot Air Force, 39-29, in the game, MSU was 3-for-6 on the power play while AF was 0-for-3. Alex Shilling made 35 saves for the Falcons while Pierce Charleson had 28 for the Spartans.

"We didn't do ourselves any favors in the first period," head coach Frank Serratore said. "When Luke Rowe pounded that puck home, I was pleased we were only down a goal at the end of the first. We needed to win that second period and give Schilling a chance to win the game for us in third. But we didn't. We have given up the first goal in every game this season and you just can't chase the scoreboard in every game."

Air Force returns to Colorado to face the 13^th-ranked Denver Pioneers. The Falcons and Pioneers meet at Cadet Ice Arena on Friday, Oct. 15, at 7:05 pm and then in Denver on Saturday.

--30--

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.

Next Event

Team Stats

Luke Rowe

Brandon Koch

Willie Reim

Sam Brennan

Players Mentioned

Will Gavin

Brandon Koch

Willie Reim

Luke Rowe

Footer