Falcons fall to AIC, 3-1, in game one

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – AIC goalie Nils Wallstrom made 31 saves to lead the Yellow Jackets to a 3-1 win over Air Force in the first game of a best-of-three Atlantic Hockey quarterfinal series, Friday, March 8, at the Cadet Ice Arena.

AIC (17-14-4) took the early lead on the rush. Oscar Geschwind skated down the left side and centered a puck for Dustin Manz. John Lundy cleaned up the rebound for a 1-0 lead at 6:28.

In a scoreless second period, a major penalty was called on AIC defenseman Brian Kramer and the Falcons had a five-minute power play. Air Force had four shots on goal, but Wallstrom stopped all four as the visitors killed the penalty.

Air Force (18-18-1) tied the game midway through the third period. Andrew DeCarlo won a faceoff in the offensive zone and took the puck around the net. His wrap-around tied the game at 11:18 on his fifth goal of the season. Four minutes later, AIC forward Josh Barnes skated down the left wing and scored with a wrister inside the top of the circle. His third of the season came from Blake Wells and Theo Angesved at 15:11. With 2:44 left in the third, Air Force pulled its goalie for the extra attacker. The Falcons had two shots on goal, but the Yellow Jackets scored an empty netter as Wells scored at 19:42.

Air Force outshot AIC, 32-18. AF was 0-for-2 on the power play while AIC was 0-for-1. Guy Blessing made 15 saves for the Falcons.

"I feel bad for our guys," head coach Frank Serratore said, "The guys played their hearts out tonight and I think they deserved a better fate. Other than not scoring on the major, if we can replicate that performance tomorrow night, I would take that in a heartbeat. I loved our team and the way they competed. We need that same determined effort tomorrow. This one is over and in the rearview mirror and now we have to come back and win tomorrow."

Game two of the quarterfinal series is Saturday, March 9, at 7:05 pm MT at the Cadet Ice Arena.

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Team Stats

Andrew DeCarlo

Will Gavin

Parker Brown

Clayton Cosentino

Players Mentioned

Guy Blessing

Andrew DeCarlo

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