USAFA, Colo. American International College scored early, but a three-goal second period helped the United States Air Force Academy collect an, 8-2, victory in Atlantic Hockey conference men's ice hockey action this evening from the Cadet Ice Arena.
With the loss AIC falls to 5-15-1 overall and 5-10-1 in Atlantic Hockey play while USAF improves to 8-8-2 on the year and 6-5-1 in conference action.
The Jackets started early as freshman Mitch Mueller (Bakersfield, Calif.) collected the puck just inside the defensive zone and connected with classmate Marc Dubeau (St. Lina, Alb.) skating through center ice and the rookie fired a wrister from just above the right circle to beat freshman net-minder Billy Christopoulos (Raleigh, N.C.) far blocker side for the 1-0 edge at 1:39 of the first period.
The Falcons were able to pull even immediately after their first man-advantage of the night expired as junior Johnny Hrabovsky (Hummelstown, Pa.) curled around the right point and sent a wrist-shot toward the cage, taking advantage of a great screen out front of sophomore goaltender Alex Murray (Burlington, Ont.), that lit the lamp for the 1-1 tie at 9:57.
Murray finished the opening period with 22 saves which is a season-high and just one off his career high of 23 saves made in the third period of a 3-1 win over Niagara last season.
Air Force wasted little time grabbing the lead in the middle frame as they took advantage of left over time on a tripping call to record a power-play goal snapping AIC's streak of 20 kills in a row.
Sophomore Tyler Ledford (Colorado Springs, Colo.) skated up the right boards toward the back of the net and dished the puck to classmate Ben Kucera (Leawood, Kansas) for a one-timer in the slot and the 2-1 lead just 32 ticks into the second.
USAF was then able to extend their lead later in the period as Hrabovsky received the puck above the left circle and faked a one-timer to get the d-man to commit before he pulled it back and fired from the slot finding the top right corner of the net for the 3-1 lead at 14:03.
Then just as the Yellow Jackets got a little momentum heading to the power-play the Falcons found themselves with a 2-on-1 rush and sophomore Jordan Himley (Mundelein, Ill.) fed senior Ben Carey (Centennial, Colo.) in the right slot for the short-handed tally and 4-1 lead at 16:46 of the second period.
The Falcons then erupted in the third period scoring four goals in just 44 seconds as sophomore Erik Baskin (Minnetonka, Minn.) scored back-to-back goals just 35 ticks apart at 6:17 and 6:52, respectively.
Carey then netted his second of the contest nine seconds after that at 7:01 for the 7-1 lead before senior Chris Porter (Stoufville, Ont.) stopped the bleeding for AIC with help from freshman Trevor Cope (White Lake, Mich.) and Bryant Christian (Moorhead, Minn.) as his shot from the left dot made the score 7-2 at 7:28 of the final frame.
The Jackets had another stellar chance to cut into the deficit as freshman Shawn McBride (Victoria, B.C.) made a great pass to junior Austin Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.), but his bid from inside the left dot was stonewalled by freshman Shane Starrett (Bellingham, Mass.) with 10:19 remaining in regulation.
USAF added more insurance with a goal at 14:02 after a shot from the right point by junior Tyler Rostenkowski (Bloomingdale, Ill.) deflected off a defender in front and over the goal line for the 8-2 final.
Murray falls to 5-10-1 after stopping 34 pucks over the first 46:52 both sophomore Jacob Caffrey (Bethesda, Md.) and junior Hunter Leisner (Garland, Tx.) also saw action in the final period in the defeat. Christopoulos improves to 4-2 this season with an eight save effort before he too was replaced by Starrett while senior Chris Dylewski (Colorado Springs, Colo.) also saw time in the final period during the victory.
AIC was outshot 45-15 for the game and went 0-for-1 with the man-advantage while Air Force went 1-for-2 on the power-play.
Both teams will turn-around and do it all over again tomorrow to close out the season series with a 5:05 p.m. (MT) contest.
