Saturday, November 4
Niagara Falls, NY
5:05 pm MT
Air Force Academy
4-6-0, 1-1-0
3
at
4
Niagara University
2-4-1, 2-2-1
1
2
3
F
Air Force
2
0
1
3
Niagara
1
3
0
4
Niagara rallies for 4-3 win over Air Force
11/4/2023 9:21:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
NIAGARA, N.Y. – Niagara scored three unanswered goals in the second period and held off Air Force for a 4-3 win Saturday, Nov. 4, at Dwyer Arena in Niagara, N.Y. Niagara took four of the six points in the Atlantic Hockey series.
Niagara (2-4-1, 2-2-1 AHA) took the early lead on the rush as Luke Mylymok roofed a wrister past Guy Blessing at 2:46. The Falcons answered two minutes later when senior defenseman Sam Brennan took a shot from the left circle that went off of the goalie and into the net. Brennan's first of the season was assisted by Austin Schwartz and Luke Robinson. Later in the period, Lucas Coon scored his first goal of the season with a redirect of Nolan Cunningham's shot at 13:09. Cunningham collected his first career point and senior Jacob Marti tallied his first point of the season.
The Purple Eagles tied the game midway through the second period when David Posma made a pass from behind the net and Ethan Lund scored from the bottom of the right circle at 8:39. On the play, the Falcons were called for a penalty and the home team scored on the ensuring power play. Shane Ott took a shot that hit a Falcon defenseman and Jay Ahearn put back the rebound at 9:35 for a 3-2 lead. Late in the period, Niagara struck again. After a Falcon turnover, Carter Randklev scored from the slot with 22 seconds left.
Air Force (4-6-0, 1-1-0 AHA) cut the NU lead to 4-3 early in the third period. Brennan made a neutral zone pass to Clayton Cosentino who gained the zone. Will Gavin's first shot was saved, but he put back the rebound for his third of the series and team-leading sixth of the season at 4:37. The Falcons killed three penalties in the third period, including 63 seconds of a 5-on-3. Air Force pulled the goalie with 1:31 left and had three shots on goal, but could not find the equalizer.
Niagara outshot Air Force, 33-21. Blessing made 31 saves for the Falcons while Jarret Fiske had 18 for the Purple Eagles. Air Force was 0-for-1 on the power play while NU was 1-for-5.
"The comeback kids went too the well one to many times," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We have struggled to win periods and ironically we won two periods tonight. But that second period killed us. That goal with 22 seconds left in the second period was huge for them. Those goals late in the period boost the momentum big time. We gutted our way back into it, but it was too little too late. All we can do is tip our cap to the Purple Eagles. The team that deserved to win the game, won the game."
Air Force returns home for a two-game conference series against Army, Nov. 10-11 at the Cadet Ice Arena.
--30--
Niagara (2-4-1, 2-2-1 AHA) took the early lead on the rush as Luke Mylymok roofed a wrister past Guy Blessing at 2:46. The Falcons answered two minutes later when senior defenseman Sam Brennan took a shot from the left circle that went off of the goalie and into the net. Brennan's first of the season was assisted by Austin Schwartz and Luke Robinson. Later in the period, Lucas Coon scored his first goal of the season with a redirect of Nolan Cunningham's shot at 13:09. Cunningham collected his first career point and senior Jacob Marti tallied his first point of the season.
The Purple Eagles tied the game midway through the second period when David Posma made a pass from behind the net and Ethan Lund scored from the bottom of the right circle at 8:39. On the play, the Falcons were called for a penalty and the home team scored on the ensuring power play. Shane Ott took a shot that hit a Falcon defenseman and Jay Ahearn put back the rebound at 9:35 for a 3-2 lead. Late in the period, Niagara struck again. After a Falcon turnover, Carter Randklev scored from the slot with 22 seconds left.
Air Force (4-6-0, 1-1-0 AHA) cut the NU lead to 4-3 early in the third period. Brennan made a neutral zone pass to Clayton Cosentino who gained the zone. Will Gavin's first shot was saved, but he put back the rebound for his third of the series and team-leading sixth of the season at 4:37. The Falcons killed three penalties in the third period, including 63 seconds of a 5-on-3. Air Force pulled the goalie with 1:31 left and had three shots on goal, but could not find the equalizer.
Niagara outshot Air Force, 33-21. Blessing made 31 saves for the Falcons while Jarret Fiske had 18 for the Purple Eagles. Air Force was 0-for-1 on the power play while NU was 1-for-5.
"The comeback kids went too the well one to many times," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We have struggled to win periods and ironically we won two periods tonight. But that second period killed us. That goal with 22 seconds left in the second period was huge for them. Those goals late in the period boost the momentum big time. We gutted our way back into it, but it was too little too late. All we can do is tip our cap to the Purple Eagles. The team that deserved to win the game, won the game."
Air Force returns home for a two-game conference series against Army, Nov. 10-11 at the Cadet Ice Arena.
--30--
Team Stats
AIR
NIA
Shots
21
35
PPG
0
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
5
1
Penalty Mins
10
2
Faceoffs Won
30
30
Game Leaders
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
4
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
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