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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Players Mentioned

Brian Adams

Sam Brennan

Will Gavin

Nate Horn

Brandon Koch

Jacob Marti

Bennett Norlin

Aaron Randazzo

Willie Reim

Luke Rowe

Austin Schwartz