Holy Cross defeats Air Force, 2-1

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Holy Cross goalie Jason Grande made 27 saves to lead the Crusaders to a 2-1 win over Air Force in an Atlantic Hockey Association game, Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Cadet Ice Arena.

Holy Cross (5-12-1, 4-7-1 AHA) scored two goals in a span of 3: 13 in the first period for an early 2-0 lead. On a 2-on-2, Tyler Ghiradosi set up Alec Cicero for a tap-in on the back door at 13:39. The Crusaders took a 2-0 lead when Ghiradosi's shot was saved, but the visitors kept the pressure on the Falcons. Alex Peterson made a pass from the bottom of the right circle to Ghiradosi on the back post for a 2-0 lead at 15:52 of the first.

Air Force (6-10-2, 2-7-1 AHA) scored the only goal of the second period on the team's first short-handed goal of the season. Nate Horn pounced on a loose puck and touched a pass off the boards to Austin Schwartz in the neutral zone. Schwartz skated in uncontested and netted his first career shortie to cut the Crusader lead to 2-1 at 9:17.

The Crusaders clung to the 2-1 lead deep into the third period. With 2:03 left in the third, Air Force pulled the goalie for the extra attacker. The Falcons had four shots on goal and two blocked by Crusaders during that stretch. With 50 seconds left, Luke Rowe's slap shot went off the cross bar. Then with under five seconds left, Brandon Koch set up Will Gavin for a slap shot form the right circle. Grande made his final save of the series as time expired.

Air Force outshot Holy Cross, 28-17, in the game and had a 20-8 advantage in the final 40 minutes. Air Force was 0-for-5 on the power play while HC was 0-for-4. Blessing made 15 saves for the Falcons.

"That was a spirited comeback, but we were bad in the first period," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Give them a lot of credit. They came out with a better push in the first period and went up two goals. We have been chasing the scoreboard for the last two weeks. We played four and a half good periods this weekend, but their goalie was on fire. He was outstanding. Falling behind in games and chasing the scoreboard is losing hockey. We can turn this thing around. We need to get healthy physically and mentally over the break and come back ready to go."

Air Force is now idle until a two-game league series against Canisius, Dec. 30-31, at the Cadet Ice Arena.

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Team Stats

Austin Schwartz

Nate Horn

Brandon Koch

Luke Rowe

Players Mentioned

Will Gavin

Nate Horn

Brandon Koch

Luke Rowe

Austin Schwartz

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