Falcons fall at Lindenwood, 7-6

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – Lindenwood scored three goals in the third period, including the game-winner with 1:40 remaining for a 7-6 win over Air Force in a non-conference game Friday, Oct. 14, at the Centene Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo.

Air Force (0-2-1) opened the scoring just over six minutes into the game. Brian Adams led the rush down the right wing and made a cross-ice pass to Sam Brennan. Brennan's centering pass was redirected in by sophomore Austin Schwartz at 6:28. Lindenwood scored the next two goals for a 2-1 lead. On the power-play, the Lions tied the game on a one-timer from the right circle David Gagnon. Ninety-one seconds later, Andy Willis collected a loose puck at the goal line and scored from a sharp angle for a 2-1 Lion lead at 9:59. Late in the period, defensemen Brandon Koch and Luke Rowe controlled the puck. Rowe found a streaking Jacob Marti in the center of the ice. Marti split two Lion defenseman on the breakaway and took a backhander top shelf to tie the score with 6:15 left in the first period.

Air Force scored four goals in the first nine minutes of the second period for a 6-2 lead. Nate Horn put back a rebound of Koch's shot at 3:36. After Bennett Norlin drew a penalty, the Falcons capitalized as Koch set up Will Gavin for a one-timer at 5:30. Gavin scored his second of the game, and second of the season, at 7:59. Gavin forced a turnover in the Air Force end and went coast-to-coast for a 5-2 lead. Just over a minute later, the Falcons had another odd-man rush and Willie Reim scored with a wrister from the right circle. Lindenwood answered with two goals in the final seven minutes. Max Neill scored on the rush at 13:08 and then Kyle Jeffers scored on the power play with 48 seconds left in the second to cut the Falcon lead to 6-4.

Midway through the third period with the Falcons on the power play, Lindenwood's Hunter Johannes intercepted a pass at the blue line, skated in uncontested and scored short-handed at 12:54. The Lions then tied the game just over a minute later on the power play. Ryan Finnegan set up Gagnon for a one-timer in the right circle at 14:12. With 1:40 left in the third, Finnegan put back a rebound of Drew Kuzman's shot for a 7-6 lead. Air Force pulled the goalie in the final 90 seconds, but were unable to score with the extra attacker.

Air Force outshot Lindenwood, 45-22, in the game. The 45 shots were a season high. Air Force was 1-for-4 on the power play and LU was 3-for-5. Freshman goalie Aaron Randazzo made 15 saves. Trent Burnham made 39 for the Lions.

"I'm in shock," head coach Frank Serratore said. "This is a punch in the gut. It was a tale of two games. We played our game and controlled play in that second period, but we knew they are a handy team that plays free and is confident offensively. We have not played well with the lead the last two weeks. We have a lot to work on and we have a quick turnround for tomorrow's game."

Air Force and Lindenwood conclude the two-game non-conference schedule on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 2:10 pm CT in Maryland Heights, Mo.

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Team Stats

Brandon Koch

Luke Rowe

Will Gavin

Willie Reim

Players Mentioned

Brian Adams

Sam Brennan

Will Gavin

Nate Horn

Brandon Koch

Jacob Marti

Bennett Norlin

Aaron Randazzo

Willie Reim

Luke Rowe

Austin Schwartz

Players Mentioned

Brian Adams

Sam Brennan

Will Gavin

Nate Horn

Brandon Koch

Jacob Marti

Bennett Norlin

Aaron Randazzo

Willie Reim

Luke Rowe

Austin Schwartz

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