The Seventh Period breaks down the first half of Air Force’s hockey season.
First Period
Admit it, you were, if not scared, at least a bit leery after Air Force started the season 0-7. Had successive massive graduating classes caught up to the Falcons. Fear not, the Falcons have flipped the script since early November, going 5-1-3 after the 0-fer start and getting Atlantic Hockey’s extra point in each of the three ties.
Second Period
The 0-7 start really only featured three clunkers – the second game against Notre Dame (6-1) and the first ones vs. Arizona State (3-0) and Sacred Heart (7-1). All three teams are ranked in the USCHO.com top 20. The Falcons had chances to win the other four, and should have defeated RIT twice in a series in which it allowed a total of three goals. The problem was scoring just one goal in two games. Offense, or lack thereof was the real culprit. AFA had just 8 goals in the opening slide. Almost half of the 28 goals allowed came in two games.
Third Period
The season turned with a 4-3 win at Sacred Heart, which along with AIC, appears to be the team to beat in Atlantic Hockey. That also marked the first college start for sophomore goalie Alex Schilling, who has kept the net ever since while posting numbers of 2.10 and .908. He has given up just 18 goals in that stretch. Assistant captain Brady Tomlak emphasized last month that junior goalie Zach LaRocque had played well enough to win several games, but the Falcons just could not buy a goal. The upshot of all this is that Air Force now knows it has two viable options in net after entering the season unsure who would replace Billy “The Greek” Christopoulos.
Fourth Period
The other thing Air Force accomplished in its past nine games was waking up its offense to the tune of 28 goals. Before the season, coach Frank Serratore said this was an opportunity for his six-member senior class to write their own story after playing behind two program-defining classes. Led by Tomlak (team-high 13 points), captain Matt Pulver (10 points, team- and career-high 6 goals) and a third forward, Trevor Stone (8 points), they’re doing just that. All three wear letters, and all three are leading by example.
Matt Pulver. Photo courtesy of Paat Kelly / Pengo Sports and Air Force Athletics
Fifth Period
The seniors have had plenty of support, particularly of late, thanks to a group of juniors who also have upped their games. This is particularly true of the Falcons’ trio of third-year defensemen – Zach Mirageas (10 points), Alex Mehnert (8 assists) and Jake Levin (7 points). All three are every-situation standouts, and Mirageas has had stretches in which he’s taken over games. The trio has had to shepherd a D corps that dresses two or three freshmen every game.
Sixth Period
Another junior has taken his game to another level, too. Forward Max Harper has five career goals – all this season – and now that he’s healthy he’s played up to his top-six role. He brings size, speed and some skill, especially in front of the net. Sophomore Kieran Durgan (8 points) has picked up right up after an excellent freshman season. And five freshman are making their mark. An all-freshman line of Blake Bride, Luke Manning and Willie Reim is making more regular appearances on the scoresheet, blue-line newcomers Brandon Koch and Andrew Kruse have become reliable regulars who can – especially in Koch’s case – chip in offense.
Seventh Period
The second half starts with a bang – AIC, an NCAA quarterfinalist last season, visits before a trip to resurgent Army West Point. A few weeks later Sacred Heart visits. By the time the calendar flips to February and that 10-game stretch is over we should have a good idea if the recent progress by the Falcons will lead to a return to AHC’s final four and a shot at the NCAA Tournament.
©First Line Editorial 2019
