Falcons sweep Sacred Heart, extend winning streak to four

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Dominik Wasik had a career high 35 saves and Nolan Cunningham scored the game-winner as Air Force defeated Sacred Heart, 3-2, in an Atlantic Hockey America game, Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Martire Family Arena in Fairfield, Conn.

Air Force earned its first sweep at Sacred Heart since 2016 and extended its winning streak to four straight, tying as the longest since a five-gamer in 2018-19.
Sacred Heart (3-5-1, 2-3-1 AHA) opened the scoring on a breakaway by Gavin Bryant scored at 11:58 of the first period. The Falcon penalty kill and Wasik kept it a 1-0 game after one period. Air Force killed three penalties in the first period and Wasik made nine saves, including a breakaway save on Jack Hillier with 1:45 left in the opening period.

Air Force (5-4-1, 2-2-0 AHA) tied the game at 17:02 of the second period when senior Holt Oliphant scored his second of the season. Senior Mason McCormick, in just his second game back from injury, took a shot that was saved and Oliphant put back the rebound. Freshman Charles Panchisin earned his first career point with an assist on the play.

SHU took a 2-1 lead at 1:44 of the third as Ethan Wolthers scored. The Falcons again answered as defenseman Jake Peterson scored his second of the season from Sam Stitz. Peterson forced a turnover in his own end and led the rush. Stitz's shot was saved, but Peterson tied the game at 3:40. Late in the third, Owen Dubois gained the zone on the rush and set up Cunningham for the game-winner, his second of the season, with 2:47 left.

Sacred Heart outshot Air Force, 37-24. Air Force was 0-for-1 on the power play and killed all three of the Pioneer man-advantages. Ajeet Gundarah made 21 saves for the Pioneers.

"There's a lot to be happy and proud about tonight," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Sacred Heart played a hard, disciplined game tonight. We took their best punches tonight and hung in there. They tried to knock us out early, but they couldn't. When we had some lapses, Wasik was there for us. This was a good old-fashioned road win and it doesn't happen unless the best player on the ice is in our net. And he was. It's not the amount of saves you make, but the timely saves that Dom made that mattered the most. Our guys had to dig deep tonight. Give our guys a lot of credit. We are still young and this team is just scratching the surface of what they can become."

Air Force returns home for a two-game league series against Holy Cross, Nov. 14-15, at Cadet Ice Arena.

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