For the second Saturday night in a row, Air Force’s hockey team worked extra and came away with a win.

One week after defeating Robert Morris in doublt overtime in a first-round Atlantic Hockey playoff game, the Falcons emerged from the longest game in the program’s history with a 3-2 double-OT victory against Sacred Heart to even a best-of-3 quarterfinal series. A winner-take-all Game 3 awaits Sunday.

Co-captain Austin Schwartz redirected Chris Hedden’s point shot with 33 seconds left in the second overtime to lift the Falcons. The strike, which came 99:27 into the game, gave Air Force its only lead in the do-or-die contest.

“This group has a lot of spirit in them, a lot of fight in them,” coach Frank Serratore told AM 1300 after the game. “I’m proud of the guys, and I’m happy for them.”

Seniors stand tall for Falcons

All three goals came off the sticks of seniors — Andrew DeCarlo and Mitchell Digby also scored. Fellow senior Guy Blessing was steady in net, making 32 saves.

They, along with co-captain Clay Cosention and Jasper Lester, are the only players on Air Force’s roster who have reached an Atlantic Hockey championship game, something that is one step closer after Saturday’s dramatic finish.

After a solid start Friday, things got away from the Falcons in the second period when Sacred Heart took a 3-1 lead en route to a 4-1 win. On Saturday, Air Force rallied from one-goal deficits in the second and third periods.

DeCarlo struck 4:25 into the second after the Pioneers had taken an early lead on Reid Pabich’s goal 3:25 into the game. It was his fifth of the season.

Sacred Heart seized a 2-1 lead early in the third on Matthew Guerra’s goal, but Digby’s shot while the Falcons were shorthanded tied it 4:27 in. Mason McCormick and Holt Oliphant initiated the play that resulted in Digby’s third goal.

“We were the alphas in this game,” Serratore said. “That was indicated in we came from behind twice.”

Schwartz’s goal — his career-high 12th — came a few minutes after the Falcons had killed off a penalty. DeCarlo’s shot was tracked down by Gibbons, who fed Hedden at the left point. The defenseman wasted no time unloading a shot at Ajeet Gundarah, who made 55 saves, and Schwartz got a tip. The play was reviewed twice — once for a high stick by Schwartz and then on a coach’s challenge for a high stick on DeCarlo’s initial shot.

Getting stronger

Air Force’s penalty kill shone on Saturday, killing off five penalties in the third period and both overtimes. Those included Sacred Heart power plays late in each overtime.

“We had to overcome some adversity,” Serratore said. “We had to kill those penalties.”

Given plenty of chances to wilt, the Falcons instead showed more and more determination. They outshoot the hosts 58-34, and most of that difference came in the third period and the overtimes, when AFA built a 38-16 edge.

“They manhandled us at times (Friday) night, but I didn’t see them do that as much tonight,” Serratore said. “I saw them fade a little bit, and we got stronger. Or they faded and we stayed the same.

“It will be interesting to see how much the teams have left (on Sunday).”

Not only did Saturday’s game go long, but Sunday’s starts even earlier due to Daylight Savings. Game 2 ended at 6:49 p.m. MST, meaning the teams have little more than 19 hours to rest before their most important game of the season.

Of course, most important games of the season are old news for Air Force after the past two Saturday nights.

Notes

Game 3 is at 3 p.m. on flohockey.tv and KVOR AM740. … The teams are 2-2 in four games at Fairfield, Conn., this season. Sacred Heart has won both Friday games, while Air Force has answered on both Saturdays. … The teams were even in blocked shots — a remarkable 28 apiece — just about even in faceoffs, which Sacred Heart led 41-40. … Two other Atlantic Hockey series will have Game 3s on Sunday as well — Niagara even its series against Army West Point, and top-seeded Holy Cross bounced back against AIC. No. 3 seeded Bentley swept Canisius.

©First Line Editorial 2025