Air Force’s season of change on the blue line – it had to replace four seniors – has brought admittedly mixed results at times, but when you focus on Atlantic Hockey Conference play, the Falcons have been better than you might realize.

While no defenseman is in positive plus-minus territory overall, three (Matt Koch, Zack Mirageas and Alex Mehnert) are in conference play, where the Falcons have allowed a league-low (by nine) 50 goals. That is more remarkable when one considers Air Force has been shut out five times, by a cumulative 20-0, in AHC games.

The defense is making steady gains

“We’re all in different roles than we were last year, more ice time and playing in different zones,” said Koch, a senior co-captain. “Zack and me took every offensive-zone face-off last year, and this year it seems like it’s every defensive-zone draw because of the roles we’re playing in.”

Koch, who leads the team with 22 points, is one of only two upperclassmen on the blue line, and the other, fellow senior Dan Bailey drew high praise from his coach this week.

“(Dan) Bailey, I think, is our most improved player as a senior. Bailey’s been great back there,” coach Frank Serratore said.

Bailey isn’t having his best year statistically, not even close. He had just three points and was a minus-10 through 28 games. Two seasons ago he had five goals among his 16 points. But the numbers don’t tell the full story of his season, not even close.

“Last year he was playing forward for us in the NCAA Tournament,” Koch said. “This year, he’s been solid, he’s playing a lot on the penalty kill and breaking pucks out. He’s made very few mistakes.

“The points don’t show all that he’s done for this team, playing in every situation, on the penalty kill, in 5 on 6s late in the game. You can always count on him to make a good decision.”

While Koch and Mirageas have been the Falcons’ go-to pair, and sophomores Jake Levin and Mehnert usually team up, Bailey often finds himself paired with one of the three freshmen defenders, most recently Keegan Mantaro.

It’s a role Bailey relishes.

“It’s been nice from a mentorship standpoint because I’ve gone through ups and downs in my career,” he said. “It makes it easier to relate to the freshmen, especially when they’re in and out of the lineup.”

Returning to the blue line – and staying there – also has provided a huge boost, the senior added.

“It helps with the confidence part of my game,” Bailey said. “I just take my swings and know the coaches are confident in me back there.

“The biggest improvement for me has been the mental part. Last year at times I was gripping the stick too much and was afraid to make mistakes at times. Now I’m harder on pucks and I’m confident enough to let mistakes happen and not be overcome by fear of them.”

Serratore, a former goalie, believes in building from the net out. With senior Billy Christopoulos again playing a high level, part one of that equation is no problem. From there, his crew on defense is proving its mettle, too.

“If all of these guys play to their ability, it doesn’t preclude us from getting where we want,” Serratore said. “You build it from the inside out.”

In order for the Falcons to return to a third straight NCAA Tournament, the blue-line building project will have to continue to progress in the season’s closing weeks. Fortunately, the Falcons have a couple of senior foremen.

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