Air Force weathered an early storm to keep the game close, but it could not overcome No. 17 Western Michigan, falling 4-1 in the championship game of the Ice Vegas Invitational on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Billy Christopoulos made 39 saves and Matt Koch scored a power-play goal for the Falcons (11-8-1), who had 25 shots.
The Broncos (11-6-1) dominated the first half of the game, taking a 2-0 lead on goals by Luke Bafia and Ethen Frank in the first 23 minutes.
Bafia put Western up with a bar down shot with 4:57 to play in the first period. That was the only ding against Christopoulos, who was otherwise excellent in a period the Broncos largely controlled.
WMU built its lead when Frank chipped it past a defenseman, drove to the net and chipped it past Christopoulos to make it 2-0 just 2:21 into the second.
The Falcons, whose penalty killers went 6 for 6, drew to a goal with 5:49 to go in the second period. Koch scored just as a 5-on-3 power play was about to expire. Kyle Haak won an offensive zone face-off to Kieran Durgan, who passed to Koch in the high slot.
“Billy Christopoulos kept us in this one,” coach Frank Serratore said. “We have to get better and we have to play faster. We aren’t there yet. Western Michigan has some great athletes. That is what a great team looks like. They could have put us away early, but Billy wouldn’t allow it. They couldn’t deliver the knockout punch.”
The Broncos added two empty-net goals, including Frank’s second tally of the game with 2:09 to play. Lawton Courtnall scored with 30 seconds left.
“I really thought we were going to tie it up,” Serratore said. “We had some good looks on our power plays and extra attacker late. I am really proud of the guys for the way they battled.”
Koch and Christopoulos were selected to the all-tournament team.
Air Force’s three stars
- Billy Christopoulos. The senior kept the Falcons within striking distance, making 39 saves.
- Matt Koch. His first goal of the season pulled Air Force within a goal.
- Kyle Haak. The senior had an assist on Koch’s goal to cap a five-point weekend.
Up next
The Falcons resume Atlantic Hockey play with a home series against Army West Point. Friday’s game faces off at 7:05 p.m. while Saturday’s starts at 5:05 p.m.
©First Line Editorial 2017-19
