Six different Falcons scored in 6-3 win over Niagara

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over Niagara in an Atlantic Hockey Association game, Friday, Jan. 20, at the Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force earned its first win since Nov. 12.

Air Force (7-14-2, 3-9-1 AHA) looked to take the early lead when Andrew DeCarlo scored from Will Gavin with 3:42 left in the period. After a coaches' challenge and review, the goal was disallowed due to offsides.

Niagara (11-10-2, 5-8-2 AHA) opened the scoring at 3:39 when Shane Ott forced a turnover in the neutral zone and started a 2-on-1. Ott set up Lars Rodne for a 1-0 lead. After the goal, a major penalty was called on NU's David Posma, but the Falcons were unable to score on the power play. The Purple Eagles took a 2-0 lead when Ryan Cox won a faceoff and Casey Carreau ripped a one-timer at 11:08.

Air Force answered 24 seconds later when Mitchell Digby scored with a wrister from the center point. Sam Brennan and Clayton Cosentino assisted on the goal at 11:32. The Falcons tied the game at 14:41 when Will Gavin tipped in a point shot by Jasper Lester. Gavin's team-leading ninth of the season was also assisted by Chris Hedden. Air Force took its first lead with 1.3 seconds left in the period. Luke Rowe chipped the puck in deep and Holt Oliphant collected the puck below the goal line. Oliphant sent the puck to the front of the net and Jacob Marti tipped it in for a 3-2 lead.

At the start of the third period, Niagara pulled goalie Ryan Ouellette, a Colorado Springs native, and brought in Chad Veltri. In a 4-on-4 situation, Willie Reim won a faceoff in the offensive zone and Brandon Koch fed Luke Rowe in the left circle. Rowe's blast went bar-down for a 4-2 lead at 3:25 of the third. The Falcons held the two-goal lead until late in the period. Niagara went with the empty-net and extra attacker with 4:17 left. With the extra attacker on, the Purple Eagles scored as Ryan Naumovski put back a rebound of Lars Rodne's shot to cut the Falcon lead to 4-3 with 3:20 remaining. The Purple Eagles again went with the extra attacker, but this time the Falcons found the empty net. Bennett Norlin forced a turnover and Parker Brown carried the puck out of the zone. Brown set up Brandon Koch for the empty-netter and a 5-3 lead with 2:21 left. The Purple Eagles pulled the goalie again with 2:15 left and an offensive zone faceoff. Niagara won the draw, but Oliphant forced a turnover and scored with a backhander from his own blue line for a 6-3 lead with 2:10 left.

Air Force outshot Niagara, 30-25, in the game. Niagara was 0-for-5 on the power play while Air Force was 0-for-4. Senior Austin Park earned his first career win by making 22 saves. Ouellette made 17 saves in the first two periods. Veltri made seven saves in the third.

"I'm proud of the guys, they persevered," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We had a goal disallowed and then we get down 2-0, but the guys stuck with it. I liked the way we played the whole game. We had to do it the hard way and come from behind. I'm happy for Austin Park as he tasted victory for the first time."

Air Force and Niagara conclude the league series on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 4:07 pm at the Cadet Ice Arena.

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