Falcons blank AHA’s top team, 3-0

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Senior Guy Blessing stopped all 29 shots for his third shutout of the season in leading the Falcons to a 3-0 win over Sacred Heart in an Atlantic Hockey America game, Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Martire Family Arena in Fairfield, Conn. The two teams split the series as SHU continues to lead the AHA with 35 points.

Air Force (10-11-1, 7-5-0 AHA) started quickly by out-shooting the Pioneers, 6-0, in the first four minutes. The Falcons took the early lead on a play that started with a 2-on-1 rush for Clayton Cosentino and Brendan Gibbons. Cosentino's shot was saved and then Beau Janzig's follow-up was also saved. Sophomore Nick Remissong put back the third chance for a 1-0 lead at 8:44 of the first period.

In a scoreless second period, the Falcons outshot the Pioneers, 12-7. Blessing made a pair of saves on odd-man rushes by John Jaworski and Max Dorrington and a diving glove save on a shot by AHA leading scorer, Felix Trudeau.

Early in the third period, Ren Morque sent a long outlet pass and Remissong chipped it in the neutral zone. Andrew DeCarlo skated down the left wing with speed, went to the back hand, and scored his second of the season at 17:18. Late in the game, Air Force killed a Pioneer power play and then the home team pulled the goalie. Senior Austin Schwartz, who has blocked more shots than any forward in the nation, blocked a one-timer deep in his own end. He then collected the loose puck on his backhand and sent the puck 185 feet into the empty net for a 3-0 lead with 2:42 remaining.

"I am so happy for our guys," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Our guys care so much and it warms my heart to see them do so well. We were collectively good all weekend. Sacred Heart is the first-place team in our league and they only scored one goal, not including the empty-netters, in six periods. We were a difficult team to play against all weekend and that has to be in our DNA."

Air Force outshot Sacred Heart, 36-29. Air Force was 0-for-2 on the power play and killed all three of SHU's power plays. Pioneer goalie Ajeet Gundarah made 33 saves.

Air Force, in fourth place, returns home to host second-place Bentley, Friday-Saturday, Jan. 10-11, at the Cadet Ice Arena.

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Team Stats

Nick Remissong

Austin Schwartz

Andrew DeCarlo

Clayton Cosentino

Players Mentioned

Guy Blessing

Clayton Cosentino

Andrew DeCarlo

Brendan Gibbons

Beau Janzig

Ren Morque

Nick Remissong

Austin Schwartz

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