Gavin scores in overtime for 3-2 win at Niagara

NIAGARA, N.Y. – Will Gavin's second goal of the game was the game-winner in overtime as the Falcons defeated Niagara, 3-2, in an Atlantic Hockey game at Dwyer Arena in Niagara, N.Y. Parker Brown and Chris Hedden each had two assists and Guy Blessing made 27 saves in the Falcons' conference opener.

After a scoreless first period, Jay Ahearn put the Purple Eagles up 1-0 with a power play goal at 2:22 of the second period. Glebs Prohorenkovs won a faceoff in the offensive zone and Ahearn scored his third goal of the season.

Air Force tied the game early in the third period. Chris Hedden intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and set up Holt Oliphant on the right side. Oliphant's third of the season came just 31 seconds into the period. Niagara regained the lead on the rush as Olivier Gauthier scored at 9:14. The Falcons again answered on the rush as Parker Brown set up Will Gavin with 4:33 left in the third to tie the game.

In overtime, the Falcons controlled the puck in the offensive as Owen Baumgartner, Brown and Gavin played catch in the middle of the ice. Gavin drifted into the right circle and Brown set him up perfectly for the one-timer at 2:05 of overtime. The goal was Gavin's second game-winner of the season and the seventh of his career. It was also Air Force's second overtime win of the season.

Niagara (1-4-1, 1-2-1 AHA) outshot Air Force, 29-24. Air Force was 0-for-2 on the power play while Niagara was 1-for-3. Ryan Oulette made 21 saves for the Purple Eagles.

"Give our guys credit, they were resilient," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We have struggled to score goals recently and it's frustrating. But our guys stuck with it and found a way to get it done. We chased the scoreboard again, but we came back twice. This game was not a thing of beauty. We needed something good to happen to us and now we will see if we can build on it."

Air Force (4-5-0, 1-0-0 AHA) and Niagara conclude the conference series on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 7:05 pm ET in Niagara, N.Y.

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