Falcons fall at AIC, 3-1

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – AIC scored three unanswered goals in a 3-1 win over Air Force in an Atlantic Hockey game Sunday, Nov. 20, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. AIC took five of the six points in the series.

Air Force (6-6-2, 2-3-1 AHA) opened the scoring in the first four minutes of the game. Brian Adams drew a penalty and the Falcons capitalized. On the rush, Clayton Cosentino centered a puck from the right side and Nate Horn, coming through the slot with speed, tipped it in. Horn's second of the series and fifth of the season came at 4:00. Late in the period, AIC had just killed a Falcon power play. AIC defenseman Matt Rickard chipped a puck off the glass to Blake Bennett who just came out the penalty box. Bennett started a 2-on-0 rush and Aaron Grounds tied the game with 3:39 left.

Early in the second period, a major penalty was called on AIC's Blake Bennett, but the Falcons were unable to score. AIC (7-6-3, 5-5-1 AHA) then took a 2-1 lead midway through the second period when Grounds put back a rebound of Austen Long's shot at 10:01. About 90 seconds later, AIC's Alexander Malinowski tipped in a point shot. However, after a video review, the goal was disallowed as it was touched with a high stick.

The Yellow Jackets took a 3-1 lead 65 seconds into the third period. After winning a faceoff in the offensive zone, AIC's Eric Otto scored with a slap shot from the right circle. About three minutes later, it appeared the Falcons had cut the lead to 3-2 on a goal by Mason McCormick. However, after video review, it was decided the Falcons were offsides prior to the goal and it was disallowed. Air Force pulled its goalie with 4:09 left in the game, but AIC blocked 10 shots in the extra-attacker situation to hold on to the 3-1 win.

"We found a way to get the first goal," head coach Frank Serratore said. "But we didn't do anything with the lead. Our power play let us down badly. We had eight minutes of power play in the second period and had two shots. Then we started the third period down 2-1 and it was a matter of which team wanted it more. They got the next goal about a minute into the period. And they blocked a ton of shots tonight. Give them credit for doing that. The opportunities were there for us and we didn't take advantage of them. We were not good enough and that is not acceptable."

AIC outshot Air Force, 34-29. The Falcons were 1-for-6 on the power play and killed all four of AIC's advantages. Guy Blessing made 31 saves in the game. AIC goalie Garrett Fiske made 28 saves.

Air Force travels to Erie, Pa., for a two-game league series against Mercyhurst, Nov. 25-26.

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Team Stats

Nate Horn

Parker Brown

Clayton Cosentino

Luke Rowe

Players Mentioned

Brian Adams

Guy Blessing

Clayton Cosentino

Nate Horn

Mason McCormick

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