Cosentino scores game-winner in 3-2 overtime win at Canisius

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Air Force rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final eight minutes of the game and Clayton Cosentino scored the overtime game-winner as the Falcons defeated Canisius, 3-2, in an Atlantic Hockey America game Saturday, Feb. 8, at Harborcenter in Buffalo, N.Y. Air Force took five of the six points in the series.

In a scoreless first period, Air Force (13-18-1, 10-12-0 AHA) outshot Canisius 10-0 in the first seven minutes of the game and had a 15-1 shot advantage in the first 11 minutes. Freshman Will Dawson appeared to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead with 5:58 left in the first, but the goal was disallowed on a coaches challenge due to offsides. Air Force tied its season high with 20 shots on goal in the first period.

The Falcons outshot the Griffs, 18-7, in the second period, but the game remained scoreless after the first 40 minutes of play.

Canisius (9-18-2, 9-10-2 AHA) took a 1-0 lead early in the third period. Just as a Canisius player came out of the penalty box, the Griffs had a 3-on-1 rush. Matteo Giampa scored at 1:42 of the third period for a 1-0 lead. The Griffs built a 2-0 lead when Luke Marshall's shot from the left point got through traffic and snuck past Guy Blessing at 11:08. Air Force rallied to score the next three goals.

Air Force got on the board as the Falcons' all-freshman line of Will Dawson, Nick Sajevic and Sam Stitz scored their fourth goal of the series. Shots by Sajevic and Dawson were saved and defenseman Nolan Cunningham put back the rebound at 11:57 of the third period. With 2;00 left, Air Force pulled its goalie for the extra attacker. Cosentino set up Chris Hedden for a one-timer from the right circle to tie the game with 1:17 left.

In the 3-on-3 overtime, Cosentino forced a turnover in the neutral zone and scored on the breakaway at 1:16 of the extra period.

"We got lucky last night, but tonight we deserved it," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Tonight, we got down early, but we deserved a better fate. Maybe the hockey gods awarded us again, but rewarded us for playing the game the right way tonight. I loved our game tonight. There's no quit in our guys. They stuck with it. The better team won the game tonight. That was fun, exciting and gratifying tonight. I couldn't be more proud of the guys. We have a red-hot Army team coming in this coming weekend. We are both playing well and it should be an exciting, exciting weekend."

Air Force outshot Canisius, 52-23. The 52 shots are a season high. Air Force was 0-for-4 on the power play while Canisius was 0-for-3. Blessing made 21 saves. For the Griffs, Petter Wickstrom Stumer made a career-high 49 saves.

Air Force returns home for the final regular-season series at Cadet Ice Arena, hosting Army, Feb. 14-15.

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