Cadet Arena debuted a new attraction Thursday night – the rollercoaster. Air Force’s prize for surviving it was a 6-5 victory over No. 8 Michigan State.

In a game that had more twists and turns than construction in traffic circles, the Falcons (2-1) took 3-0, 5-1 and 6-4 leads and nearly saw them evaporate against the highly skilled Spartans (2-1).

“We made it ugly,” Falcons coach Frank Serratore said. “We bent big-time but we didn’t break.

“They’re No. 8 in the country for a reason. We went out, built up a good lead and it got away from us. But when it was all said and done we beat No. 8 Michigan State.”

Sophomore forward Holt Oliphant scored a power-play, empty-net goal with 1:26 left to give the Falcons that 6-4 lead, but the Spartans made it closer with 4 seconds left on Daniel Russell’s rebound goal.

The upset came despite Air Force getting out-power-played 2-1 and receiving acceptable but not great goaltending.

“It’s a learning experience,” co-captain Luke Robinson said. “It’s the first time for us in a game like that and we’re super hyped. The mentality is the Falcons are known for taking down some top teams. When a team has a number next to it in the rankings we’ve done really well.

“I think that’s why we got off to a hot start. When you get that three-goal lead maybe you get a little comfortable. So it was a great learning experience to ride that wave and understand what to do when you get too high or too low and find that middle ground.”

So how did the Falcons manage the type of victory that can be a tone-setter for a season? By applying constant pressure to the Spartans, blocking a ridiculous 27 shots and seeing the emergence of several freshmen.

Falcons Freshmen Make Big Impression

The Spartans entered the game with one of the most heralded freshmen classes in Division I plus a host of transfers from respected programs such as Minnesota Duluth and UMass. However, it was the Falcons’ whose freshmen class shone.

Center Owen Dubois scored his first two NCAA goals in the game’s first 7:49 then set up fellow newcomer Brendan Gibbons for his first college strike. In the process, Air Force chased one of MSU’s newcomers, goalie Trey Augustine, after one period. Augustine, a 2023 Detroit Red Wings draft choice, struggled mightily with rebound control in the first period.

Dubois’ first goal resulted from an outstanding effort immediately after the Falcons killed off a penalty. He separated an MSU defender from the puck in front of the Cadet section boards. Dubois then retrieved the loose puck, walked in on Augustine and backhanded a shot over the goalie’s left shoulder for his first NCAA goal.

Guy Blessing (24 saves) kept the lead intact with a save on a breakaway by freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov, a top prospect for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

Dubois’ second tally came after another hustle play, this time by linemate Brendan Gibbons. Gibbons won a race to the puck behind the Spartans’ net then fed a no-look pass back to Dubois just below the right circle. The center rifled the shot far side and over Augustine’s left shoulder.

Dubois gets goal 2⃣ of the night pic.twitter.com/ItEQhrj6kS

— Air Force Hockey (@AF_HKY) October 13, 2023

“The freshmen’s emergence is huge,” Robinson said. “It starts in practice. Gibby is so hard to defend down low, just a big base. You saw that today protect it down low. With two guys coming at him he makes a nice play to Doobie. Doobie, he’s a horse. That guy doesn’t stop. And Remi (Nick Remissong, who had two assists for his first two NCAA points) has found his zone. He’s worked hard to get this position.”

By the game’s end a fourth freshman, Will Staring, was taking regular shifts as Robinson’s D partner.

The Falcons’ third goal came after another successful PK. Sam Brennan’s shot from the high slot hit Augustine and landed in front of the blue paint. Parker Brown was right there to put it past him with 16 seconds to go in the first.

A constant in the period was the Falcons’ pressure, something they sustained for much of the second as well. It was hard for the Spartans to score when they were defending in their zone.

“Let the nerves settle and just give it to them in the first five and see how they react and play the game from there,” was how Brown described the strategy.

Michigan State Climbs Back

The Spartans replaced Augustine with another freshman, Luca Di Pasquo, to start the second. MSU’s skill was on display during a back-and-forth second period that served as a cautionary tale for the Falcons.

The inability to control a puck in the neutral zone led to junior Red Savage, another Red Wings pick and a transfer from Miami, scoring on a breakaway 9:41 in to make it 3-1.

AFA answered 11 seconds later when Gibbons got his first NCAA goal off feed from Dubois that went under the reach of two MSU defenders to re-establish a three-goal edge. The Falcons extended that to 5-1 when Clayton Cosentino finished a give-and-go with Nate Horn with 6:57 to go.

Michigan State kept at it, however, and saw a payoff in the final 3:24. Senior Nicolas Muller ripped a shot from the top of the right circle home on a power play, then freshman Gavin O’Connell walked to the inside of the left circle and fired a cross-body shot past Blessing’s blocker side with just 13.6 seconds left. That made it 5-3 and gave each team a last-minute goal in the game.

“Blessing let in a couple of second-period stinkers,” said Serratore, who spoke with the junior after the period. “I told him, ‘Time to become a man.’ All he needed to do on two of those was get out and get the right angle.

“Give him credit. I wanted to see how he’d respond because a situation like that can make or break a guy. He bounced back in the third period.”

Falcons Apply Finishing Touch

One of the crucial points of the game was an Air Force penalty kill that began with 5:26 to play and the Falcons up 5-4.

The defense, which accounted for 17 of the blocked shots, was stout and Blessing answered the ball.

“Guy Blessing was the best penalty killer on that, and we’ve got guys who are willing to eat pucks,” Robinson noted. “You combine those two things and it gives you a great penalty kill. … Let’s help the guy who got in the box because a lot of times it’s a little play they wished they had back.”

That winning feeling 🤩 pic.twitter.com/tkEewNXWaX

— Air Force Hockey (@AF_HKY) October 13, 2023

There are two other takeaways from this type of win – a sense of accomplishment but a recognition that there is more to be done.

Said Brown, “A big win always is important to show the guys what we’re capable of and show the rest of the country what we’re capable of. It sets a tone, but it’s early but there is so much to clean up and work on.”

Notes

Horn, who left Saturday’s season opener after blocking a shot and didn’t play Sunday, returned to the lineup. In addition to his assist on Cosentino’s goal, blocked three shots. … Co-captain Luke Rowe led the way with six blocks, while defensemen Chris Hedden and Mitchell Digby and forward Austin Schwartz each blocked four. … The teams play again Friday at 7 p.m.

©First Line Editorial 2023