Rest assured Worcester, Mass., won’t get a favorable business trip review from Air Force’s hockey team.

The Falcons lost for the ninth and 10th consecutive times to Holy Cross at Hart Arena on Friday and Saturday. Both were one-goal games whose outcomes were padded by two empty-netters each night.

Air Force lost 5-2 on Saturday after a 6-3 defeat on Friday.

The Falcons (14-15-1, 11-8-1 AHA) were in both games but could not overcome the Crusaders, who have had their number in recent years. Holy Cross (16-11-4, 11-9-3) also has won 10 in a row overall in the series.

Air Force Losses Come In Different Forms

Air Force did exactly what it wanted to at the start on Friday, seizing a 3-1 lead on goals by Parker Brown, Holt Oliphant and Will Gavin. Gavin’s was his career-high 18th and Oliphant’s was his career-best ninth.

Two events flippled the game, however.

The Crusaders pulled within one goal with 27 seconds left in the first. Then they drew even during a bizarre sequence in the second period when the Falcons were whistled for too many men and then Luke Rowe was assessed a major and a game misconduct for spearing on a play that was reviewed 6:13 in. Holy Cross tied the score on the ensuing 5-on-3 power play.

The score stayed tied until 4:41 remained in regulation. Tyler Ghirardosi scored at even-strength then got the first of two empty-net goals.

Falcons Chased Scoreboard Saturday

After giving up the first goal Saturday, the Falcons tied it on Andrew DeCarlo’s power-play strike 9:21 into the second period. However, the Crusaders retook the lead on a goal with 27 seconds left in a period for the second time in two nights. Jake Stockfish scored on the power play.

Still, Air Force didn’t quit. Owen Dubois tied the score with 6:47 to play. But Ghirardosi gave Holy Cross the lead again with exactly 5 minutes remaining. Two more empty-net goals sealed the outcome.

Two Trends Emerged

Junior goaltender Guy Blessing was solid both nights (four of the 11 goals were scored when he was on the bench). He made 35 saves on Friday and 29 more on Saturday.

But an Air Force offense that averaged five goals per game in January managed just five this weekend.

Special teams were a wash, but the Falcons took 14 penalties over the two nights. Holy Cross took 12 and often initiated after-the-whistle antics, but the Falcons expended much energy killing off 9 of 11 Crusaders chances. The power play converted 2 of 7 chances over the two games.

What It Means For Air Force

The good news is Air Force remains tied for fourth in Atlantic Hockey with AIC at 32 points, but sixth-place Bentley is just one point behind.

Earning a top-four spot and home ice in the quarterfinals, which is highly preferable for the Falcons, will take some work. That’s because second-place Sacred Heart visits Cadet Arena next weekend before a trip to first-place RIT in two weeks.

The top five teams avoid a first-round play-in on March 2.

Notes: Gavin was selected Atlantic Hockey’s Player of the Month after ringing up 13 points (seven goals) in eight games. … Freshman Owen Baumgartner returned to the lineup and had the primary assist on DeCarlo’s goa.

©First Line Editorial 2024