Falcons defeat Canisius, 5-3

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Freshmen Sam Stitz and Will Dawson each had three points as Air Force defeated Canisius, 5-3, in an Atlantic Hockey America game Friday, Feb. 7, at Harborcenter in Buffalo, N.Y.

Air Force (12-18-1, 9-12-0 AHA) scored three goals in the first 9:30 of the game for a 3-1 lead in the first period. Junior Mason McCormick put the Falcons on the board just 4:19 into the game as he put back a rebound of his own shot on the rush. Freshman Ren Morque assisted on the play. Just over a minute later, the Falcons took a 2-0 lead. Chris Hedden's shot from the left point was redirected by Dawson in front. His shot was saved Stitz scored with a rebound at 5:34. Canisius (9-17-2, 9-9-2 AHA) got on the board with a short-handed goal by Stefano Bottini from Jackson Nieuwendyk at 7:31. Air Force pulled ahead 3-1 on Dawson's first career goal. Nick Sajevic kept the puck in the zone and Stitz attempted a wrap around shot. Dawson put back the rebound at 9:30.

Canisius cut the Falcon lead to 3-2 late in the second period as Trey Funk scored on a 4-on-4 at 13:39. The Falcons answered left than two minutes later with an even-strength goal that came just three seconds after a power play ended. Nolan Cunningham's shot from the point was saved, but Dawson tipped a puck to Stitz who netted his second of the game at 15:24.

Early in the third period, Canisius scored a 5-on-3 power play goal as Aidan McDermott's shot hit the post, but Kyle Haskins put back the rebound. With 10 minutes left in the third, a major penalty was called on Air Force, but the Falcons killed it by blocking three shots, getting three saves from Guy Blessing and six clears. With 1:55 left, Canisius pulled the goalie for the extra attacker. The Falcons blocked two shots and Blessing made three saves before Holt Oliphant scored an empty-netter from Will Staring from the neutral zone with two seconds left.

"We played with the lead the entire game and that is a good thing," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Our goalie was really good and our penalty kill was really good, and it had to be. This wasn't pretty, but there is no substitute for winning. Not a lot of style points by us, but credit the boys for finding a way to get it done."

Canisius outshot Air Force, 34-32. Canisius was 1-for-5 on the power play and killed all four of Air Force's man advantages. Blessing made 31 saves for the Falcons. Canisius goalie Ethan Robertson gave up three goals on eight shots in 9:30 and was replaced by Petter Wickstrom-Stumer, who gave up one goal and made 22 saves in 48 minutes.

Air Force and Canisius conclude the two-game league series on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 4:05 pm ET in Buffalo.

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Team Stats

Sam Stitz

Will Dawson

Mason McCormick

Holt Oliphant

Players Mentioned

Guy Blessing

Nolan Cunningham

Will Dawson

Chris Hedden

Mason McCormick

Ren Morque

Holt Oliphant

Nick Sajevic

Will Staring

Sam Stitz

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