Falcons take the series from Holy Cross with 5-2 win

WORCESTER, Mass. – Sam Stitz scored two goals as Air Force defeated Holy Cross, 5-2, in an Atlantic Hockey America game, Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Hart Center in Worcester, Mass. With the win, Air Force takes four of the six points from second-place Holy Cross and ends a 15-game losing streak to the Crusaders. The win was the first at Holy Cross since 2016.

Air Force (11-11-2, 7-8-1 AHA) struck first on the rush as Brendan Gibbons scored his fifth of the season. Just after Gibbons came out of the penalty box, Jake Peterson forced a turnover in his own end and Hayden Nichol sprung Gibbons. Gibbons gained the zone and his wrister from the top of the right circle gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead at 15:21. With 22 seconds left in the period, Air Force goalie Dominik Wasik made two saves in tight after a Falcon turnover to preserve the 1-0 lead.

Early in the second period, Crusader Quinn McCall redirected a shot to tie the game at 3:09. The Falcons quickly answered less than 90 seconds later as Stitz scored from Nick Remissong and Will Staring for a 2-1 lead at 4:32. It appeared that the Crusaders tied the game, but a coaches' challenge by Air Force was successful as the goal was disallowed for being kicked in at 6:04. On the power play, Holy Cross did tie the game on a goal by Matthew Kursonis on the back door at 8:03. Gibbons drew a major penalty on Crusader Joe Solimini and Air Force netted its first power play goal of the series. Nolan Cunningham's blast from the center point went bar down from Chris Hedden and Nick Sajevic for a 3-2 lead at 14:16.

Air Force scored a pair of special teams goals in the third period. After Nichol drew a penalty, the Falcons scored their second power play goal of the game. Will Dawson set up Stitz on the back door at 5:45 for his second of the game. With under six minutes left and leading 4-2, the Crusaders had a power play. However, Hedden forced a turnover in his own end started a 2-on-2 rush. Holt Oliphant's shot was saved, but Hedden put back the rebound for a 5-2 lead with 5:19 left. The short-handed goal was his second of the season and fourth of his career.

"We played a terrific game," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Our power play came through for us tonight and we needed it The better team won tonight and I'm so proud of the guys. We haven't beaten them in so long this feels good. This was a massive win to get that Holy Cross monkey off our back and beat a good team on the road. I thought we played a great 60 minutes and now we go into our bye week with a good taste in our mouth."

Air Force outshot Holy Cross, 37-28. Air Force was 2-for-7 on the power play while HC was 1-for-6. Dominik Wasik made 26 saves while Danick Leroux had 32. Stitz tied his career high with two goals and extended his point streak to four games.

Air Force is now idle until a home series against Sacred Heart, Jan. 30-31, at the Cadet Ice Arena.

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