Army scores three in the second for 4-3 win over Air Force

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. –- Army scored three goals in the second period and held off Air Force for a 4-3 win in an Atlantic Hockey America game Friday, Feb. 20, at the Cadet Ice Arena.

Air Force (15-13-3, 11-10-2 AHA) opened the scoring early. Sam Stitz drove the net and his shot was saved. Dawson collected the puck on the right side and threaded a cross-ice pass to Nick Sajevic for a one-timer from the left circle. Sajevic and Stitz each collected their 30^th point of the season.

The teams combined for four goals in the second period. Army (12-14-5, 7-13-3 AHA) tied the game at 2:48 on the power play as Jack Ivey scored with a one-timer from the left point. The Falcons regained the lead on the rush. Ren Morque's shot was redirected by Cole Christian and saved. As the puck flew high into the air, Oliver Genest batted the puck in for his fourth goal of the season, and fourth in the last three games, at 11:23. Army tied the game again as Billy Batten forced a turnover and sprung Ben Ivey for a breakaway. Ivey's wrister from the right circle at 12:39 tied the game at 2-2. Army took its first lead of the game with 33 seconds left in the period when Barron Woodring got behind the Falcons and scored his seventh of the season for a 3-2 lead.

A penalty on Air Force late in the second period carried over into the third and Army scored its second power-play goal. Just 1:45 into the third period, Ben Ivey scored from his twin brother, Jack, for a 4-2 lead. Air Force cut the lead to 4-3 at 12:29 of the third when Will Dawson scored from Stitz and Chris Hedden. With just over two minutes left, Mason McCormick drew a penalty and the Falcons pulled the goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage. In the final two minutes, Air Force had four shots on goal and the Black Knights blocked three shots to preserve the one-goal win.

Air Force had a season-high 53 shots on goal, including 28 in the third period. Army had 23 shots on goal. Army was 2-for-5 on the power play and killed all eight of Air Force's man-advantages. Army sophomore J.J. Cataldo had 50 saves while Air Force junior Dominik Wasik had 19.

"We came unglued in the second period," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We were off the rails in the second period and structurally, it cost us. Give them credit, they capitalized on our breakdowns and Cataldo was the hero of the game. Their best players were their best players tonight. We just can't go 0-for-8 on the power play and be a minus-2 on special teams. Their power-play got it done and ours didn't, case closed."

Air Force and Army conclude the two-game league series on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 5:05 pm MT at Cadet Ice Arena. It will be the final home regular-season game of the season as the Falcons will honor their three seniors before the game.

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