Rowe’s game-winner lifts Falcons to 4-3 overtime win over Army

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Luke Rowe's goal with 16 seconds left in overtime lifted the Falcons to a 4-3 win over Army in an Atlantic Hockey game Friday, Nov. 10, at a sold out Cadet Ice Arena.

Army scored three unanswered goals late in the third period to tie the game and force overtime. The overtime game-winner was the first of Rowe's career. Air Force is now 3-1 in overtime games this season.

Air Force (5-6-0, 2-1-0 AHA) took the early lead on the power play as Will Gavin scored his fourth goal in his last three games. Chris Hedden made a rink-wide pass to Rowe on the left side. Rowe set up Gavin in the slot for a 1-0 lead at 4:09 of the first period.

The Falcons held a 16-3 shot advantage in the second period and had trouble getting anything past Army junior goalie Evan Szary. With just over five minutes left in the second period, Owen Baumgartner and Nate Horn forced a turnover in the neutral zone. Horn started the 2-on-1 and his shot was saved. Lucas Coon put back the rebound for his second goal is as many games at 14:27 of the second period.

Air Force took a 3-0 lead early in the third period on the rush. Clayton Cosentino carried the puck down the right side and sent a puck through the goal slot. Luke Robinson tipped it in at 5:59 of the third for his first goal of the season. Army flipped the momentum in the final eight minutes of the third period. On a 2-on-1 rush, Max Itagaki redirected a centering pass from Owen Nolan at 12:07. After two penalties on Air Force, Army scored on the 5-on-3 and Brent Keefer put one in from the top of the crease at 16:27. Army pulled the goalie with 1:34 remaining and tied the game with the extra attacker on the ice. Defenseman John Driscoll's shot from the point snuck through traffic and tied the game with 43 seconds left in regulation.

In overtime, Air Force had two shots that were saved early in the extra frame. Army (0-7-0, 0-4-0 AHA) gained control of the puck and entered the Falcon zone. Chris Hedden forced a turnover and used his speed down the right side. His shot was saved, but Rowe, crashing the net, put back the rebound with 16 seconds left.

Air Force outshot Army, 43-19, in the game. Late in the third period, the Falcons had a 39-12 shot advantage, but Army had the last seven shots of regulation. Air Force had four shots on goal in overtime. Army was 1-for-4 on the power play while Air Force was 1-for-3. Guy Blessing made 16 saves for the Falcons. Evan Szary made 39 saves for Army.

"We put ourselves in a tough situation," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We were good for 55 minutes. But we know there is not quit in those guys. We knew their power play was dangerous and then we take two penalties late that gave them a 5-on-3 and they scored. They kept pushing hard and we couldn't get the puck out of the zone and didn't show enough poise. We need to focus on the positives of this game and not the negatives. I guess the fans got their money's worth."

Air Force and Army will conclude the two-game league series on Veterans' Day, Saturday, Nov. 11, at 5:07 pm MT at the Cadet Ice Arena.

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