Alabama-Huntsville scored six goals in the second period and cruised to a 6-3 win over Air Force in a College Hockey America conference game at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala.
UAH swept the two-game series and improved to 8-7-1 overall and 4-2 in the CHA. Air Force fell to 4-11-1 overall and 2-4 in the CHA.
After a scoreless first period, UAH erupted for six goals in the second period. The Falcons out-shot the Chargers, 20-11, in the second period, but found themselves behind, 6-2, as eight goals were scored in 20 minutes.
The Chargers scored two goals in a span of 26 seconds to open the scoring. The first goal came at the 3:08 mark when Kevin Galerno walked the puck out from behind the net and went high to the short side to beat Falcon goalie Ian Harper. Josh Murray also assisted on the play.
Just 26 seconds later, the Chargers took a 2-0 lead on Chris Martini’s goal. Martini sent a pass into the crease that hit an Air Force player and went into the open net on the far side. UAH took a 3-0 lead at the 5:20 mark as Derek Conter scored on a rebound. Following the goal, Harper was pulled from the net in favor of Peter Foster. AFA finally got on the board at the 6:05 mark as Michael Mayra scored his first career goal. Mike Phillipich and Matt Charbonneau assisted on the goal that came from the left hash mark to make the score 3-1.
Shortly after the goal, Air Force went on the power play. The Falcons had five shots on the advantage, but failed to score. As soon as the power play ended, the Chargers started a 3-on-2 rush up the ice. Brett McConnachie made a pass in the slot to David Nimmo who one-timed it past Foster at the 8:48 mark.
After the Falcons’ first penalty of the game, the Chargers took a 5-1 lead. The Chargers won a faceoff in the offensive end and Shaun Arvai’s shot from the point found the back of the net. Following the goal, Foster was pulled from the net and replaced from Harper.
One minute later, the Chargers struck again and took a 6-1 lead. On a two-on-two rush, Dominik Rozman’s centering pass deflected off the skate of UAH center Grant Selinger and into the net.
With five minutes remaining in the period, UAH was whistled for two penalties on the same play and the Falcons had two minutes of a 5-on-3 advantage. Ninety seconds into the power play, the Falcons put together a series of passes that led to Andrew Ramsey’s fourth goal of the season at the 16:22 mark. Mayra made a pass down low to Eric Ehn on the doorstep. Ehn slid the puck across the crease to Ramsey who was alone by the right post.
Late in the third period, AFA cut the margin to three goals as Brian Gineo scored on the power play. His fourth of the season came from Matt Charbonneau and Josh Schaffer. Schaffer won the faceoff in the offensive end and got the puck back to Charbonneau. Charbonneau tipped it to Gineo at the point whose slap shot beat Scott Munroe.
AFA out-shot UAH, 34-21, in the game. Munroe earned the win as he made 31 saves for the Chargers. Foster, who played just over four minutes, took the loss as he came on in relief of Harper and then gave up the eventual game-winner. Foster did not make a save but allowed two goals. Harper allowed four goals and had 15 saves. The Falcons were 2-for-7 on the power play while UAH was 1-for-3.
Air Force returns home to host conference for Niagara, Friday-Saturday, Jan. 13-14, at the Cadet Ice Arena.
