Saturday, February 24
USAFA, CO
5:05 pm MT
Air Force Academy
2
vs
1
Robert Morris University
Air Force earns home ice in quarterfinals with 2-1 win over RMU
2/24/2024 8:58:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Guy Blessing made 19 saves and Air Force scored a pair of special teams goals for a 2-1 win over Robert Morris in an Atlantic Hockey game Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Cadet Ice Arena. With the win, the Falcons clinched the fourth seed in the AHA Playoffs and earned a bye in the first round. Air Force will host fifth-seeded AIC in a quarterfinal series, March 8-10, at Cadet Ice Arena.
Robert Morris (10-23-3, 7-17-2 AHA) took the early lead on a 3-on-2 rush as Tanner Klimpke scored his second of the series at 4:05. It appeared as though Air Force tied the game on a goal by Nolan Cunningham, midway through the first period, but the goal was disallowed due to offsides.
Air Force (18-17-1, 15-10-1 AHA) tied the game with its second short-handed goal of the series and nation-leading ninth SHG of the season. Austin Schwartz carried the puck into the zone and behind the net. While fighting off a Colonial defenseman, he sent the puck in front and Brian Adams scored his first career shortie at 7:35. Air Force had 21 shots in the second period, but RMU goalie Francis Boisvert made 20 saves. Boisvert stopped 32 of 33 in the first two periods.
Midway through the third period, Blessing made a pair of saves on shots by Rylee St. Onge and Mitch Andres and then Schwartz drew a penalty chasing down the loose puck. On the ensuing power play, Will Staring slid the puck to the center point for a shot by Cunningham. Mason McCormick redirected the shot past Boisvert for his second power-play goal of the series at 8:08 of the third. RMU pulled the goalie in the final 1:17, but was unable to tie the game.
Air Force had a season-high 46 shots on goal while RMU had 20. AF was 1-for-7 on the power play and killed all six of RMU's power plays. On RMU's six power plays, the Falcons outshot the Colonials, 7-4, short-handed. Boisvert made 44 saves for the Colonials.
"Give Robert Morris credit," head coach Frank Serratore said. "They played a great road game. This was a hard-fought game and a nerve-racking game. They didn't do much to beat themselves and they made us work for the goals that we got. We had a ton of shots, but we didn't get many rebounds. Their goalie was really good. Our special teams made the difference. There is a lot to feel good about. I like that we are heading into the playoffs after a hard-fought game like this one. We had to be really sharp and precise tonight to win."
--30--
Robert Morris (10-23-3, 7-17-2 AHA) took the early lead on a 3-on-2 rush as Tanner Klimpke scored his second of the series at 4:05. It appeared as though Air Force tied the game on a goal by Nolan Cunningham, midway through the first period, but the goal was disallowed due to offsides.
Air Force (18-17-1, 15-10-1 AHA) tied the game with its second short-handed goal of the series and nation-leading ninth SHG of the season. Austin Schwartz carried the puck into the zone and behind the net. While fighting off a Colonial defenseman, he sent the puck in front and Brian Adams scored his first career shortie at 7:35. Air Force had 21 shots in the second period, but RMU goalie Francis Boisvert made 20 saves. Boisvert stopped 32 of 33 in the first two periods.
Midway through the third period, Blessing made a pair of saves on shots by Rylee St. Onge and Mitch Andres and then Schwartz drew a penalty chasing down the loose puck. On the ensuing power play, Will Staring slid the puck to the center point for a shot by Cunningham. Mason McCormick redirected the shot past Boisvert for his second power-play goal of the series at 8:08 of the third. RMU pulled the goalie in the final 1:17, but was unable to tie the game.
Air Force had a season-high 46 shots on goal while RMU had 20. AF was 1-for-7 on the power play and killed all six of RMU's power plays. On RMU's six power plays, the Falcons outshot the Colonials, 7-4, short-handed. Boisvert made 44 saves for the Colonials.
"Give Robert Morris credit," head coach Frank Serratore said. "They played a great road game. This was a hard-fought game and a nerve-racking game. They didn't do much to beat themselves and they made us work for the goals that we got. We had a ton of shots, but we didn't get many rebounds. Their goalie was really good. Our special teams made the difference. There is a lot to feel good about. I like that we are heading into the playoffs after a hard-fought game like this one. We had to be really sharp and precise tonight to win."
--30--
Players Mentioned
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