The Air Force hockey team finally found the intensity it needed Sunday night late in the third period.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, it emerged after a brawl erupted with just 2 seconds remaining in the third period. It was too late to salvage two periods of flat play, and Mercyhurst broke the Falcons’ 10-game unbeaten streak with a 3-1 win at Cadet Ice Arena.

The streak had been tied with the Rochester Institute of Technology’s for the longest in the nation. 

“They beat our tails and we were frustrated,” Falcons coach Frank Serratore said of the ‘pillow fight’ that resulted in fifteen penalties between the two teams. “If we had shown that much intensity when the puck dropped, maybe I would be in a better mood now.”

Although there were five majors assessed — including two to leading scorer Jacques Lamoureux — no players were given a fighting penalty that would have resulted in possible suspensions for upcoming games.

The loss dropped Air Force (8-6-4, 8-2-4 Atlantic Hockey Association) into a tie for first in the AHA with the Lakers (9-9-2, 9-5-2). Both teams are one point ahead of second-place RIT, which also had its 10-game unbeaten streak snapped with a loss to non-conference Niagara on Saturday. 

Air Force’s power play, which was ranked ninth in the nation entering the Mercyhurst series, failed to score on four opportunities, including a 5-on-3 situation late in the first period.

“Our power play didn’t score all weekend, and that’s got to change,” Serratore said. “Right now we are a middle-of-the-pack team with a great goalie. You’ve got to be able to make a few mistakes, and a 1-goal margin of error is pretty darn thin.”

The Falcons’ only goal glanced off the skate of Lamoureux and past Lakers netminder Ryan Zapolski with 3:44 remaining in the final period. The Falcons, who had been outshot 29-15 in the first two periods, managed 22 shots in the third period.

The Falcons, who will not play again until Jan. 2 at Sacred Heart, will have some time to reflect.

“Usually I like to paint a pretty picture and give them a pat on the butt before the Christmas holidays,” Serratore said of his post-game talk with his players. “But I don’t really see anything here to be happy about.”

Air Force’s Stephen Carew, right, reacted to Mercyhurst’s second goal during the third period on Saturday at Cadet Ice Arena. Photo by MARIAH TAUGER, THE GAZETTE