An inability to win faceoffs eventually caught up with Air Force on Friday night.

Tyson Wilson scored 2:48 into overtime to help No. 20 Robert Morris complete a 5-4 come-from-behind victory at Cadet Ice Arena. The Colonials (18-5-4, 15-3-3 Atlantic Hockey Conference) scored the game’s final three goals to run their winning streak to five games and snap Air Force’s six-game win streak.

“The better team won,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “They scored four goals off faceoffs they won and scored five goals. We’re not going to win many games giving our opponent five goals.”

Wilson also scored the game-tying goal with 53.8 seconds remaining off a faceoff win by Zac Lynch to help the Colonials win in Colorado Springs for the first time in their past eight tries. Robert Morris dominated the faceoff battle, finishing with a 50-26 advantage and scoring four of its five goals off faceoff victories.

“We were terrible on the dot all night long,” said Air Force assistant captain Chad Demers, who put the Falcons up 1-0 12:50 into the contest. “(Faceoffs) are a big part of the game, and we didn’t execute it and probably didn’t play well enough to win tonight. I’m pretty pissed.”

Air Force (11-14-3, 10-7-2) led 4-2 with 12:24 remaining, but could not hold off the Colonials down the stretch. Robert Morris also out-shot Air Force 39-27 on the night.

“We almost stole it,” Serratore said. “A two-goal lead is the most fickle thing in hockey, and in a two-goal game, the next goal is the big goal.”

Cole Gunner threaded a sharp crossing pass to Demers on the right wing, and he popped it past Robert Morris goalie Dalton Izyk at the 12:50 mark to open the scoring.

The Colonials tied the game at 1-1 just 34 seconds into the second on a rebound goal by Zac Lynch off a booming shot by Chase Golightly.

The Falcons’ fourth line put Air Force up 2-1 at the 4:42 mark of the second when Jordan Himley took advantage of Izyk’s failed clear attempt on a shot by Mike McDonald. Johnny Hrabovsky connected on a rocket from the left wing that found the net in the top right corner of the net 10:22 into the period for a 3-1 Falcons advantage.

Daniel Leavens scored off a rocket from the point 54 seconds into the third off a faceoff win by David Friedmann to cut Air Force’s lead to 3-2.

The Falcons responded 7:36 into the period when Erik Baskin found the net, but Robert Morris dominated the remainder of regulation.

The Colonials’ Greg Gibson cut the lead to 4-3 with a power-play goal at the 8:53 mark, and Wilson sent the game into overtime with with 53.8 seconds remaining.

Lewis-Palmer Rangers junior Jonathan Scott (5) and Sand Creek Scorpions sophomore DShawn Schwartz (25) battle for a rebound in front of the student section in overtime. The Rangers defeated the Scorpions 50-47 in overtime in boys’ basketball on Friday, January 30, 2015 at Sand Creek High School. Photo by Isaiah J. Downing

Isaiah J. Downing