Falcons beat Niagara, 5-4

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force scored four goals in the first period and then held off Niagara for a 5-4 victory Friday, Jan. 14, at the Cadet Ice Arena.

Freshman defenseman Mitchell Digby scored twice as the Falcons put up the most goals in a period since Holy Cross, Dec. 16, 2019. Air Force opened the scoring on the rush as Digby put back a rebound of Will Gavin's shot at 18:09 The Falcons took a 2-0 lead 77 seconds later on Lucas Coon's third of the season. Bennett Norlin and Drake Usher assisted as the Falcons took a two-goal lead.

Junior Blake Bride gave the Falcons a 3-0 lead on Air Force's first short-handed goal of the season. Bride's backhander went five-hole at 6:26. On that same power play, Niagara got on the board as Ryan Cox scored at 6:11. Late in the period, Digby scored on the power play. Digby's second of the game came on a rebound from Brandon Koch and Gavin for a 4-1 lead.

Midway through the second period, the Purple Eagles cut the AF lead to 4-2 on Walker Sommer's power play goal. Falcon freshman defenseman Drake Usher scored his first career goal with a blast from the left point at 13:34. Digby and Gavin had the assists as the Falcons built a 5-2 lead. Niagara cut the Falcon lead to 5-3 with 5:39 left in the second as Brandon Stanley scored at 5:39.

In the third period, the Falcon penalty kill, which has been one of the best in the nation last nine games, killed a five-minute major penalty as Air Force held on to the 5-3 lead late in the third. However, another penalty on Air Force led to a power play goal from Jason Pineo at 5:45. Pineo redirected a shot by Zac Herman to cut the Falcon lead to 5-4.

Niagara pulled the goalie with 2:04 remaining but were unable to get the equalizer. The Falcons blocked one shot and freshman goalie Guy Blessing made one save.

Air Force outshot Niagara, 42-32. AF was 1-for-3 on the power play while NU was 3-for-5. Blessing made 28 saves in his first career start and first career victory. NU goalie Jake Sibell started the game and gave up the first two goals. Michael Corson came on in relief and made 37 saves in 55 minutes.

"This team has a lot of spirit and fight," head coach Frank Serratore said. "I patted the guys on the back for getting off to a great start, but I kicked them in the butt because we have to be smarter and better. In order for us to win with consistency, we have to learn not to beat ourselves. We have to learn to manage the game better."

The same two teams conclude the series on Saturday, Jan. 15, at 7:05 pm at Cadet Ice Arena.

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Team Stats

Will Gavin

Mitchell Digby

Drake Usher

Blake Bride

Players Mentioned

Guy Blessing

Blake Bride

Lucas Coon

Mitchell Digby

Will Gavin

Brandon Koch

Bennett Norlin

Walker Sommer

Drake Usher

Players Mentioned

Guy Blessing

Blake Bride

Lucas Coon

Mitchell Digby

Will Gavin

Brandon Koch

Bennett Norlin

Walker Sommer

Drake Usher

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