Air Force hockey defends first place against visiting rival Army
By
News serviceJanuary 27, 2017 | updated 10 years ago
Air Force Academy's Jordan Himley celebrates after getting the puck past Army goalie Parker Gahagen to put AFA up 2-1 at the end of the second period Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)
Shane Starrett made 17 saves and Jordan Himley scored the game-winner as Air Force defeated Army, 3-1, in an Atlantic Hockey Conference game on Friday night at a sold-out Cadet Ice Arena.
The crowd of 3,123 was the largest since 2012 against Colorado College.
Air Force is tied for first place in Atlantic Hockey with Canisius with 26 points.
“I liked our game tonight,” head coach Frank Serratore said. “They have a good team and they came at us.”
Air Force (15-8-4 overall and 12-5-2 AHC) dominated the first period, but was unable to score until late in the period. Evan Feno put back a rebound in a flurry in front of the net with 2:49 left in the period. Evan Giesler and Trevor Stone had the assists on the play.
Army (12-9-3 overall, 11-7-1 AHC) tied the game at 5:51 of the second period. A long outlet pass by the Falcons was intercepted by Dominic Franco in the neutral zone. Franco fed Ian Mansfield who snapped a wrister from the top of the right circle that clanked off the far post and went in to tie the game at 1.
In the final minute of the second, the Falcons regained the lead. Phil Boje made a pass from behind the net to Erik Baskin at the right point. Baskin’s shot was saved, but Jordan Himley put back the rebound for his team-leading 14th goal of the season.
Late in the third period, a penalty was called on Falcons winger A.J. Reid with 1:35 remaining and then Army pulled its goalie for a two-man advantage with 1:19 left.
After an Army shot, Starrett made a save and then pushed the puck to Boje on the boards. Boje’s clear just missed the empty net, but Tyler Ledford collected the loose puck and scored the short-handed empty-netter to seal the 3-1 win.
“I thought we were the better team for the most part tonight,” Serratore said. “I liked our effort tonight and hopefully we can replicate it tomorrow.”
Air Force outshot Army, 27-18, in the game. Air Force was 0-for-1 on the power play while Army was 0-for-2.
Air Force and Army conclude the two-game series on Saturday. Standing-room only tickets are available at the Cadet Field House.
Air Force Academy’s Jordan Himley celebrates after getting the puck past Army goalie Parker Gahagen to put AFA up 2-1 at the end of the second period Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy goalie Shane Starrett celebrates following the Falcons’ 3-1 win over Army Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy’s Kyle Haak looks for the rebound as Army goalie Parker Gahagen stops the puck in the second period Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy and Army players brawl in the second period Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy’s A.J. Reed tries to get the puck past Army goalie Parker Gahagen in the first period Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy’s Jordan HImley gets the puck past Army goalie Parker Gahagen to put AFA up 2-1 at the end of the second period Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy’s Phil Boje shoots on goal in the first period against Army Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy’s Kyle Mackey lifts Army’s Nash Worden as they fight for the puck in the first period Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy goalie Shane Starrett makes a save in the first period against Army Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy’s Kyle Haak, left, and Army’s Nick DeCenzo battle along the boards in the first period Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy goalie Shane Starrett celebrates following the Falcons’ 3-1 win over Army Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy’s Kyle Haak looks for the rebound as Army goalie Parker Gahagen stops the puck in the second period Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy and Army players brawl in the second period of the Falcons’ 3-1 win Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy’s A.J. Reed tries to get the puck past Army goalie Parker Gahagen in the first period of the Falcons’ 3-1 win Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy’s Phil Boje shoots on goal in the first period of the Falcons’ 3-1 win over Army Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy’s Kyle Mackey lifts Army’s Nash Worden as they fight for the puck in the first period of the Falcons’ 3-1 win Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy’s Kyle Haak, left, and Army’s Nick DeCenzo battle along the boards in the first period of the Falcons’ 3-1 win Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy goalie Shane Starrett makes a save in the first period against Army Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Air Force Academy’s Jordan Himley celebrates after getting the puck past Army goalie Parker Gahagen to put AFA up 2-1 at the end of the second period Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Air Force Academy. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)
