Saturday was a day of firsts for Air Force’s hockey team, and the most important one was the Falcons’ first victory of the season, a 4-3 Atlantic Hockey cliffhanger over Sacred Heart at Bridgeport, Conn.
Junior winger Shawn Knowlton scored the Falcons’ first two goals – the first two of his career – and Brady Tomlak and Zach Mirageas added tallies for Air Force (1-7, 1-3 AHC). Tomlak’s goal was his second in two games. Matt Pulver added two assists for Air Force.
Sophomore Alex Schilling made his first collegiate start in goal and picked up his first victory, making 21 saves. Schilling relieved Zach LaRocque in Friday’s 7-1 loss against the Pioneers (3-4-2).
“The boys bounced back well after last night’s game,” coach Frank Serratore said. “Sacred Heart is a good team. We were better tonight and were a harder team to play against. Alex Schilling played well in his first start and it was nice to see him get his first win.
“A team with less substance could have lost that game, but we hung in there, showed some poise and got a much-needed win.”
The Falcons’ four goals were a season high, and they matched their output from the previous five games, a stretch that included shutout losses to Arizona State and RIT.
Sacred Heart, which outshot the Falcons 33-18 on Friday, managed just a 24-23 edge Saturday. The Pioneers got goals from Max Luukko, Vito Bavaro and Austin McIllmurray, the last of which came on a power play with 6:59 to play and made it a one-goal game.
Knowlton scored twice, sandwiching Luukko’s strike, in the first 5:46 of the second period to kick off a four-goal period for the Falcons. Less than three minutes later, Tomlak made it 3-1 with his team-high third.
Mirageas finished the barrage with his first goal of the season with 7:06 to go in the period. Mirageas found the puck in the neutral zone as he exited the penalty box, split two Pioneers defenders and scored on a breakaway against Josh Benson (19 saves).
Air Force will play host to Bentley next Friday and Saturday at Cadet Arena.
©First Line Editorial 2019
