Will Gavin‘s power-play goal with 2:38 to play in the third period lifted Air Force to a 3-2 victory over Sacred Heart in Atlantic Hockey matchup at Cadet Arena on Friday.
Gavin’s goal was his team-high seventh of the season and gave him goals in the past three games and four of the past five.
The Falcons (4-6-1, 2-2-1 AHA) have earned points in three of their past four conference games, and all four of their victories have come on Friday nights.
Luke Rowe and Jacob Marti also scored for Air Force, and Alex Schilling made 23 saves.
Gavin’s goal was the fourth one of the game that occurred in the final three minutes of a period.
After Rowe’s one-timer, also on a power-play, gave Air Force a lead 4:37 into the game, the Pioneers (3-5-3, 1-2-2) capitalized twice on Falcons turnovers late in the first period.
Kevin Lombardi and Ryan Steele struck 28 seconds apart, the latter coming with 1:29 to play.
Marti’s strike came with 1:50 to go in the second, off a nice feed from Willie Reim. That set the stage for Gavin’s winner.
The Falcons excelled on special teams. Air Force killed off all six of its penalties, while its two power-play goals came on four chances.
The teams play again Saturday at 5 p.m., and then again on Monday and Tuesday.
©First Line Editorial 2021
