Chalk up one for air superiority.

Air Force scored three late-period goals to edge Army West Point, 3-1, on Friday in a key Atlantic Hockey matchup.

The Falcons (15-8-4, 12-5-2 AHC) moved three points up on the Black Knights (12-9-3, 11-7-1) in the AHC race.

Evan Feno scored on a rebound with less than 3 minutes remaining in the first period, and after Army tied the score early in the second period, Jordan Himley tallied what proved to be the game winner, also on a rebound, with less than a minute to go in the second. It was Himley’s team-high 14th goal and fifth in seven games. Defenseman Phil Boje started the scoring sequence with a pass to Erik Baskin, whose shot caromed off Army goalie Parker Gahagen to Himley.

Tyler Ledford sealed the outcome with a short-handed, empty-net goal with 56 seconds left. Boje also had an assist on that goal as he fired the puck out of the zone.

Shane Starrett made 17 saves for Air Force, which held a 27-18 shots edge.

“I liked our game tonight,” coach Frank Serratore said. “They have a good team and they came at us. I thought we were the better team for the most part tonight. I liked our effort tonight and hopefully we can replicate it tomorrow.”

By the numbers

Evan Giesler, who had an assist on Feno’s goal, has 19 points, tied with Himley for second on the team behind Kyle Haak‘s 21. … Boje has 18 points, and he and Giesler sit one assist behind Haak’s 14. … Feno has 17 points, and his goal was his third in the past four games. … Ledford has four points in the past three games and eight in the past nine. … Starrett has allowed just 13 goals in his past nine starts and more than two just once in that span.