It was Newcomers’ Night at Cadet Arena on Friday.
Air Force surged out to a rare early lead then held on for a 5-4 Atlantic Hockey victory over Niagara. Freshmen scored four of the Falcons’ season-high-tying five goals, and another freshman picked up his first NCAA victory in net.
Defenseman Mitchell Digby scored two goals and added an assist, fellow blue liner Drake Usher scored his first NCAA goal and forward Lucas Coon tallied his third. Junior Blake Bride added a shorthanded goal.
And freshman Guy Blessing, subbing for senior Alex Schilling, made 28 saves for his first college victory in his first start.
Finally a fast start
For only the fifth time in 19 games the Falcons scored first. It came on Digby’s follow of Will Gavin‘s drive down the right wing to the net just 1:51 in. The assist was the first of three Gavin would have in the game.
Coon quickly made it 2-0 off a beautiful feed from Bennett Norlin that found him between the circles 3:08 in.
But the Falcons (6-11-2, 4-7-2) weren’t done by a long shot. Bride forced a turnover at the Purple Eagles line and skated in alone on Mike Corson, who had relieved Jason Sibell, and beat the transfer from Denver with a forehand-backhand move with 6:26 to go in the period.
Just 15 seconds later Niagara (6-13-2, 3-6-3) got one back on Ryan Cox‘s strike, but Digby scored on a rebound from the goal line to Corson’s left to give the Falcons a 4-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
Hanging on
The Falcons would need all of that outburst because the Purple Eagles methodically reduced the deficit to 5-3 in the second, getting a power-play goal from former Falcon Walker Sommer and an even-strength tally from Brandon Stanley sandwiched around Usher’s first career goal.
Usher gathered a pass from fellow freshman Clayton Cosentino from below the goal line and scored from the top inside edge of the left circle.
The Falcons, who generated 42 shots on goal, were their own worst enemies in the third period. They took seven minutes of penalties, including a major for interference on Bride, and they struggled to exit the puck cleanly from their zone while Niagara turned up the pressure.
Air Force killed off Bride’s penalty but not an ensuing one. Jason Pineo‘s redirection with 5:45 left closed the gap to one goal for the first time since 4 minutes into the game.
The Falcons weathered the storm and won for the fifth time on a Friday night this season.
Notes: Schilling emerged from Covid protocol earlier Friday and was given the night off, although he was on the bench. He was listed as the third goaltender behind Blessing and Austin Park. … The Falcons also were without leading scorer Sam Brennan. … Niagara did not bring its No. 1 goalie, Chad Veltre, on the trip due to injury. … The teams play again Saturday at 7 p.m.
©First Line Editorial 2022
