Niagara comes from behind for 4-3 win over Air Force

NIAGARA, N.Y. – Niagara scored two goals in the final seven minutes of the game for a 4-3 win over Air Force in an Atlantic Hockey Association game Friday, Nov. 5, at Dwyer Arena.

Niagara (2-5-0, 2-1-0 AHA) opened the scoring 46 seconds into the game as Albin Nillsson scored on a 2-on-1. After Nate Horn drew a penalty, the Falcons tied the game on the power play. Brandon Koch fed Mitchell Digby for a shot that was saved. Horn put back the rebound for his third of the season 91 seconds in to the game. The Falcons then took a 2-1 lead on the rush as Will Gavin scored his fourth of the season, and his fourth in the last three games. Gavin collected a puck in the neutral zone and dropped it for Parker Brown on the right side. Brown gave it back to Gavin in the slot at 4:01. The Purple Eagles tied the game on the power play as Ryan Naumovski scored at 14:16.

Air Force (2-5-0, 0-1-0 AHA) scored the only goal of the second period as freshman Austin Schwartz netted the first of his career. Mitchell Digby's shot was saved, but the rebound sat in the blue paint on the back door. Schwartz tapped it in for a 3-2 lead at 14:16.

Air Force held the one-goal lead until late in the third period. With just over seven minutes remaining, Niagara's Josef Mysak took a shot from the center point that was redirected by Nillsson at 12:40. With less than 90 seconds left and the puck behind the Air Force net, NU's Luke Edgerton came out with it and scored at 18:46.

Niagara outshot Air Force, 33-28, in the game. Air Force was 1-for-3 on the power play while NU was 1-for-2. Alex Schilling made 29 saves for the Falcons while Chad Veltri had 25 for the home team.

"I liked our effort and I feel bad for our guys," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Our guys were resilient and competed so hard. I give all the credit to Niagara. They found a way to get it done. We had some chances in this game to get the next goal and it just wouldn't go in. Now the big question is can we come out with the same battle level on Saturday as we had tonight."

Air Force and Niagara conclude the two-game league series on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 5:05 pm ET in Niagara, N.Y.

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