The Air Force Falcons defeated the Niagara University Purple Eagles, 7-4, in front of 1,157 fans on Saturday Night at the Dwyer Arena.
The Falcons opened up the scoring at the 11:38 mark in the first period on a goal from freshman forward Jason Fabian. Sophomore defensemen Mike Walsh assisted on Fabian’s fifth goal of the season.
“Jason’s goal gave our team a confidence with his goal” said Air Force head coach Frank Serratore
The Falcons extended their lead to 2-0 at the 18:12 mark of the period on a goal from senior Brad Sellers. Senior forward Jacques Lamoureux assisted on Sellers first of the season.
Fabian, on a pass from sophomore forward John Kruse scored his second of the game at the 2:21 mark of the second stanza.
The Falcons capitalized on a Niagara penalty at the 4:24 mark of the period with a power-play goal from freshman defensemen Adam McKenzie. Kruse picked up the helper on the McKenzie goal.
“Adam and Jason are going to be terrific players in this league and we are pleased that we were able to recruit them to Air Force” said Serratore
A goal at the 18:26 mark of the period from junior forward Paul Weisgarber gave Air Force a 5-0 lead. Lamoureux and senior forward Derrick Burnett picked up his assists on the Weisgarber goal. The assist was Lamoureux’s second of the game
Niagara finally broke goaltender Jason Torf’s shutout at the 3:02 mark of the third period on an unassisted goal from freshmen forward Ryan Murphy. The goal was Murphy’s’ first collegiate goal of his career.
“I was happy to see Murph score his first of his career, he was doing everything right tonight and his line worked hard to get him that goal” said Niagara Head Coach Dave Burkholder.
The Purple Eagles cut the deficit to 5-2 at the 10:20 mark of the period of a power-play goal from senior forward Bryan Haczyk. Senior forward Paul Zanette and sophomore forward Giancarlo Iurio picked up the assists on the goal.
The Falcons answered back at the 11:26 mark on a goal from junior defensemen Scott Mathis. Senior forward Sean Bertsch and junior forward Paul Weisgarber picked up the assists on the goal.
At the 12:10 mark, freshmen forward Scott Arnold scored on a breakaway pass from senior defensemen Derek Foam.
A short-handed goal at the 15:46 mark from Arnold cut the Falcons deficit to 6-4. Junior forward Dan Baco and senior Ryan Annesley picked up the assists on Arnold’s second of the night.
“Scott was our best player tonight, he kept us in the game and you know what you are going to get each game with Scott” said Burkholder
At the 19:56 mark Air Force added an empty-net goal from senior Blake Page on a pass from senior Derrick Burnett.
The Purple Eagles will face-off against the Colgate University Raiders at the Dwyer Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 7:05 p.m. EST.
