Gavin’s game-winner lifts Falcons to 3-2 win

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Will Gavin's power-play goal late in the third period was the game-winner as Air Force defeated Sacred Heart, 3-2, in an Atlantic Hockey Association game Friday, Nov. 19, at the Cadet Ice Arena.

Air Force (4-6-1, 2-2-1 AHA) opened the scoring on the power play in the first five minutes of the game. Jacob Marti drew the penalty to give the Falcons the advantage. Nate Horn fed Brandon Koch at the right point. Koch slid the puck to Luke Rowe in the left circle and his one-timer found the back of the net at 4:37. In the final two minutes of the opening period, Sacred Heart (3-5-3, 1-2-2 AHA) scored two goals in a span of 28 seconds off of Air Force turnovers. Pioneers Dante Palecco and Andrius Kulbis-Marino broke up an outlet pass by the Falcons and Kevin Lombardi scored from the slot at 18:03. On the next shift, a Falcon turnover deep in its own end led to a goal by Ryan Steel at 18:31.

Late in the second period, Willie Reim drew a penalty and Falcons set up in their own end while the extra attacker came on the ice. Once set up, Brandon Koch made a long outlet pass right up the middle of the ice to Reim on the far blue line, giving the Falcons a 3-on-0. Reim set up Marti on the left for the sophomore's first goal of the season with 1:50 left in the second period.

The game remained tied until late in the third period when Blake Bride drew a penalty, putting the Falcons on the power play. With the puck on the wall, Andrew DeCarlo pushed it up to Sam Brennan on the right point. Brennan gave the puck Gavin who took a couple strides to the top of the left circle and snapped a wrister over the blocker of goalie Justin Robbins with 2:38 left in the third. SHU pulled the goalie with 1:18 remaining, but the Falcons blocked two shots and Alex Schilling made two saves to seal the win.

"This game came down to special teams and we won that battle," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Our guys fight so hard and Alex Schilling was good for us. Sacred Heart is an old and deep team and they have some dangerous offensive players. Our guys are a very difficult group to play against. The physicality of our young team can tip the scales at times. We can play better and we will have to tomorrow. We need to take care of the puck better, but we play with a lot of spirit and spunk and the bounces went our way tonight."

Sacred Heart outshot Air Force, 25-23, in the game. Air Force was 2-for-4 on the power play and had a delayed penalty goal as well. The Falcons killed all six of the Pioneer power plays. Schilling made 23 saves for the Falcons. Justin Robbins had 20 for the Pioneers.

The Falcons and Pioneers continue the series on Saturday, Nov. 20, at 5:05 pm at the Cadet Ice Arena.

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