FALCONS GET SQUARED AWAY, JUMP BACK IN RACE

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Feb 3, 2008 | by KATY BOOTH

After losing seniors Eric Ehn and Josh Print to injury, Air Force lost three straight games and struggled to put points on the board.

It took the Falcons less than 5 minutes in the second period to change that Saturday as they took control for a 3-1 win over visiting Bentley.

With three points in the series the Falcons moved into a tie for second in the Atlantic Hockey Association at 10-8-4, 13-10-5 overall.

"We've kind of been forced to establish a different identity here without Print and Ehn," Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. "As a team we needed to find a way to win, and we did that."

Air Force began the second period on the attack. Before the 9- minute mark, center Jeff Hajner buried the puck over goalie Joe Calvi's glove-side shoulder for his fifth power-play goal.

"When you can score on your own power plays and kill theirs, that always leads to good things," Serratore said. "And when you get great goaltending like (Andrew) Volkening gave us tonight, it just makes things work."

Air Force allowed only eight shots during Bentley's four power- play opportunities, and Volkening finished with 25 saves.

Air Force stretched its lead to two less than 5 minutes later when freshman Derrick Burnett's backward pass found Matt Fairchild in front of the crease. Fairchild chipped the puck in behind Calvi to put Air Force up 2-0.

"At first I was looking to pass, and I just kind of ran out of space," Fairchild said. "I just threw it out there, but it was really important for us to get that lead."

In the first 2 minutes of the third, center Justin Kemmerer got behind Volkening for Bentley's only score.

After blocking a shot in front of the Air Force goal, defenseman Michael Mayra skated down the ice to pass to Brent Olson in front of the crease. Olson backhanded the puck over Calvi's shoulder for the final 3-1 margin.

Bentley is 6-14-6, 6-8-6.

NEXT

Air Force at

Mercyhurst, 5:35

p.m. Friday