RIT defeats Air Force, 3-2, in overtime

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – RIT's Tanner Andrew scored at 2:55 of overtime to lift the Tigers to a 3-2 win over Air Force in an Atlantic Hockey America game Saturday, Feb. 1, at the Cadet Ice Arena. RIT took five of the six points in the series. Air Force earned a point with the overtime loss tonight.

Air Force (11-18-1, 8-12-0 AHA) scored first for the second straight night. After a save by Guy Blessing, the Falcon top line gained the zone. Brendan Gibbons' shot was saved, but Owen Dubois put back the rebound 35 seconds into the game. Clayton Cosentino collected his team-leading 21^st point and the 94^th of his career.

RIT (7-20-1, 6-13-1 AHA) tied the game at 3:05 of the first period on the power play. Tyler Fukakusa's shot was saved but Matthew Wilde, who scored the game-winner on Friday, netted his team-leading 13^th of the season to tie the game. With 35 seconds left in the first and the Falcons on the power play, Nolan Cunningham's shot banged off the cross bar as the game was tied at 1-1 after the first 20 minutes.

The Falcons regained the lead on an odd-man rush as Holt Oliphant scored his first of the season at 7:49. Will Staring and Guy Blessing collected assists. Blessing earned his second assist of the season, and third of his career, on a night when he recorded his 2000^th career save. Just over two minutes later, RIT again tied the game, this time short-handed. Tiger defenseman Kevin Scott set up Simon Isabelle and Tyler Mahan for a 2-on-1. Isabelle set up Mahan for a tip-in in front at 14:15.

The game remained tied at 2-2 heading into overtime. Each team had a shot go wide of the net in overtime before the Tigers had a 3-on-1. Fukakusa set up Tanner Andrew for the game-winner at 2:55 of overtime.

Air Force outshot RIT, 29-21. RIT was 1-for-3 on the power play and killed all five of Air Force's man-advantages. Blessing made 18 saves for the Falcons while Jakub Krbecek had 27 for the Tigers.

"We got out special teamed tonight," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We have a lot of trouble putting the puck in the net. It's as simple as that. Blessing played another good game for us. We had plenty of opportunities, but we are challenged offensively. They made some really good plays tonight. We are going through some adversity. We will either get out of this swinging and we will go down swinging. That's our mantra. We are being tested right now, but tough times don't last, tough people do."

Air Force travels to Buffalo, N.Y., for a two-game league series at Canisius, Feb. 7-8.

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Team Stats

Owen Dubois

Holt Oliphant

Will Staring

Clayton Cosentino

Players Mentioned

Guy Blessing

Clayton Cosentino

Nolan Cunningham

Owen Dubois

Brendan Gibbons

Holt Oliphant

Will Staring

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