Air Force opened its season with four consecutive games against top-20 teams. Its reward? A matchup on Friday against a Lindenwood team that went into Wisconsin last weekend and got a program-lifting victory against a ranked team.

The Falcons, however, overcame a rough start and gutted out a 3-2 non-conference victory. Guy Blessing capped it with his 26th save in the last second.

Junior Mason McCormick scored the winner 5:30 into the third period. It was the Falcons’ second power-play goal of the night.

Mason McCormick putting us ahead🚨😤 pic.twitter.com/ha1Ytf9QHn

— Air Force Hockey (@AF_HKY) October 19, 2024

Sophomore Owen Dubois got the first with 1:06 to go in the first period. Dubois’ goal came on the heels of Lindenwood (1-2) scoring a shorthanded goal about 3 minutes earlier.

Lindenwood took a second lead just 35 seconds into the second period, but junior defenseman Chris Hedden evened things five minutes later.

“It was a hard-fought game, but the better team won it,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “The first period wasn’t great, and we were fortunate to get out of there tied.

“We were better as the game went on. We managed the third period really well. Our 5v6 unit did a great job at the end.

“After the start we had had, some people may say this win was lucky. We need to go out on Sunday and prove to ourselves and everyone that this wasn’t lucky and we are going in the right direction.”

Next: The teams play again Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

©First Line Editorial 2024