Air Force coach Frank Serratore was rightfully concerned about his team’s inexperience with a number of underclassmen thrust into larger roles due to injuries.
But he never questioned the Falcons’ mettle even during a five-game winless streak. His team was rewarded for displaying that grit with a tough 4-3 win over the Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday night.
“It was a good, scrappy win,” Serratore said. “We are not going to out-experience this team. We are going to have to out work them. I liked the fight and compete level.”
The Falcons answered RIT’s tying power-play goal by Erik Brown with 10:59 left in the Atlantic Hockey Conference contest with their second man-advantage tally of the night. The 2-1 edge in power-play goals proved decisive.
AFA senior Erik Baskin redirected a shot from the point by freshman defenseman Alex Mehnert for the eventual game-winner only 2:12 after RIT tied the game at 3-3.
Mehnert was one of the six underclassmen playing more than expected this season. It was his second NCAA point of the night after he assisted Air Force’s first power-play tally.
The home victory ended a 0-4-1 streak for the Falcons and extended a five-game win streak over RIT (5-4-1, 5-2 AHC) dating back to the 2016 league semifinals.
“It’s a resilient group,” Baskin said. “Over these last few weekends we have had some adversity but we have learned to put anything bad in the rearview mirror. We are becoming more resilient as a group which you love to see in the first half because the second half and playoffs will be even tougher.”
Air Force’s depth was a concern with the team’s top four centers sitting in the stands. But the freshmen have been forced to develop quickly in their temporary absence.
“We expected them to be ready to play and they stepped up,” Baskin said. “That doesn’t surprise us one bit.”
Another big test came after a goal by AFA sophomore Erich Jaeger with 8:56 left in the second was waved off due to goalie interference. Instead of hanging their heads, the Falcons attacked with Matt Serratore finding Evan Giesler for a 3-2 lead only 19 seconds later.
Air Force fell behind 1-0 and 2-1 before going ahead for the first time on that goal.
“We took a few to the jaw before we fought back,” coach Serratore said. “I would like to eliminate that but (RIT) is a good team. They were 5-1 (in league) coming in for a reason.”
AFA cashed in its first power play when Mehnert’s shot from the point was too dificult for goalie Logan Drackett (24 saves) to control. The puck ended up in the left faceoff circle from where Jordan Himley lifted in the rebound only six seconds into the man advantage.
That was a much-needed goal for the Falcons (6-5-2, 2-4-1 AHC), who started off well only to see the Tigers generate sustained pressure that led to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Liam Kerins.
RIT went ahead 2-1 when Gabe Valenzuela redirected the puck in between goalie Billy Christopolous’ leg pads only 40 seconds into the second period. It was Valenzuela’s fifth multi-point game in a row.
But the Falcons found an answer. Less than three minutes later, sophomore defenseman-turned-winger Joe Tryan fired in a shot to tie the game at 2-2. It was his first college goal in his sixth NCAA game — all this season. He was one of two defensemen (Dan Bailey) pressed into service as forward on Friday.
“There wasn’t a whole lot not to like about tonight in the situation we are in with (new) guys coming in,” Serratore said. “We won the special teams, our goalie (24 saves) was just a little bit better than theirs and we showed resiliency.”
AHC roundup
Holy Cross 2, Army West Point 2 OT
Army’s Dominic Franco scored his fourth goal of the year with 8:37 remaining in regulation to force overtime.
The tying goal came about four minutes after visiting Holy Cross scored twice in five minutes on goals by Scott Pooley and Danny Lopez to take the Crusaders’ first lead of the game. Paul Berrafato made 22 saves to hold off the Black Knights, who were led by Cole Bruns’ 28 stops.
Canisius 5, Bentley 1
A three-goal second period helped the Golden Griffins put away the Falcons Friday night.
Five different Canisius players scored with the eventual game-winner tallied by sophomore Nick Hutchison, who recorded his fifth goal of the season only 66 seconds into the second to snap the 1-1 tie.
Freshman Michael Zuffante scored on the power play for Bentley’s only goal.
Robert Morris 3, American International 1
Senior forward Spencer Dorowicz scored twice to pace RMU. Senior Colonials defenseman Robert Powers recorded his first NCAA goal for the opening tally. Sophomore goalie Francis Marotte made 30 saves in the home win.
AIC freshman goalie Stefano Durante made 23 saves. Luke Lynch assisted both of Dorowicz’s goals.
