Sophomore defenseman Dan Bailey had a goal and an assist in Air Force’s Game 1 victory over Bentley on Friday. Photo courtesy of Air Force Athletics
Air Force coach Frank Serratore likes to remind that it’s imperative for the defensemen he recruits to have a front side to their games.
That offense was on display in spades Friday night when his team defeated Bentley College, 4-0, in a Atlantic Hockey Conference quarterfinal series opener.
Blue liners Phil Boje, Dan Bailey and Matt Koch scored goals, Evan Feno and Boje had three points and goaltender Shane Starrett made 18 saves as the AFA (23-9-5) moved one win away from returning to the AHC semifinals.
“I thought we were a little rusty early in the game and Bentley was game-ready,” AFA coach Frank Serratore told the school’s official website. “They got after our defensemen pretty good early. We have to do a better job getting the puck out of our own zone.”
Air Force had last weekend off, while Bentley defeated Sacred Heart in a three-game first-round series.
Bentley generated nearly half of its shots in the first period (eight), but couldn’t dent Starrett, who has allowed just eight goals in five games against Bentley this season – four of them wins.
Boje and Bailey were involved on the first goal. Bailey took a drop pass from Matt Serratore. His shot hit someone but went directly to Boje, this week selected to the all-AHC first team. The junior’s slapper from the left circle beat Jayson Argue 3:12 into the second period.
Boje had a secondary assist on Feno’s goal 5:14 later. Feno collected the puck near the wall, skated toward the net and beat Argue with a wrist shot. Then 35 seconds later, Bailey fired away from the right point after Feno had found him to make it 3-0 and end Argue’s night. Boje also had a secondary assist on this goal.
Koch’s strike came on an empty-net, short-handed opportunity with almost 3 minutes to go in the game. Feno got the puck to Koch deep in the AFA zone and his clear found an open net.
Starrett, one of 10 semifinalists for the Mike Richter Award and an honorable mention all-AHC pick, saw just 10 shots after the first period in recording his fourth shutout of the season.
Game 2 is Saturday at 7 p.m.
“We can play better tomorrow night and we need to because we know Bentley will be tough,” Serratore said.
