Schwartz nets game-winner in 2-1 overtime victory

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior Austin Schwartz scored the game-winner and Guy Blessing made 25 saves as Air Force defeated AIC, 2-1 in overtime, Friday, Oct. 25, in the Atlantic Hockey America conference opener for both teams.

With the overtime win, the Falcons earned two points in the conference standings. It was Air Force's first ever win in the Mass Mutual Center (1-7-1) and the first win at AIC since 2015. In 425 minutes of hockey this season, Air Force has led for just 18 minutes and improved to 4-3-0 overall this season.

In a scoreless first period, AIC outshot Air Force, 12-2, but Blessing kept the net clean for the Falcons. AIC had seven shots on goal on two power plays.

AIC (0-4-1, 0-1-0 AHA) drew first blood in the second period. Air Force defenseman Will Staring's shot rang off the post and AIC started the rush. A shot by Yellow Jacket Justin Mexico was saved by Guy Blessing, but the rebound went off the leg of Timofei Khokhlachev and into the net. After a video review, the goal was allowed and the Yellow Jackets had a 1-0 lead at 11:30 of the second period.

Air Force (4-3-0, 1-0-0 AHA) pulled the goalie with 2:43 remaining and won five of six faceoffs down the stretch. With just over two minutes left, AIC's Danny Weight took a shot at the empty net from his own end, but the shot hit the pipe and caromed away. With time winding down, Clayton Cosentino's shot from the center point was saved, but Brendan Gibbons put back the rebound with 15 seconds left. It was Gibbons' second extra-attacker goal of the season (Arizona State).

In overtime, Schwartz started in his own end, skated through the Yellow Jackets and scored with a wrister high blocker side for his second career overtime game-winner.

"I am proud of the boys for their resilience," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We need to savor this one, but this is no way to live. We need to change the formula and figure out a way to get that first goal. This was a special win since it's been a while since we've won here. If you aspire to be a champion, you have to have the ability to come from behind and the ability to win on the road and we did both tonight."

AIC outshot Air Force, 26-19. Clark Chase made 17 saves for the Yellow Jackets. Each team was 0-for-2 on the power play.

The same two teams conclude the two-game conference series on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 1:05 pm ET in Springfield, Mass.

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