FALCONS 1 WIN FROM NCAA BERTH

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Mar 16, 2008 | by KATY BOOTH

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Junior Brent Olson and sophomore Matt Fairchild each had a pair of goals and goaltender Andrew Volkening posted his fourth shutout in the past seven games Saturday to lead the Air Force Falcons as they blanked No. 2-seeded RIT 5-0 in the Atlantic Hockey League semifinals.

In front of a league recordsetting crowd of 3,933 in RIT's hometown, the No. 3 Falcons earned a place in the championship game for the second straight year. The winner advances to the NCAA Tournament.

"This has been our goal since day one," Volkening said. "Ever since that loss last year to Minnesota, we've wanted to go back. It's kind of on our bucket list."

In today's championship game, the Falcons, who are 20-11-6 and have a nation-leading eight-game unbeaten streak, will face No. 5 Mercyhurst, 14-18-7, which eliminated top-ranked Army in the other semifinal. The matchup of Mercyhurst and Air Force marks the pairing of the two lowest seeds to face each other in an AHA championship.

During the regular season, the Falcons and Lakers split both of their series, with the Falcons taking the last game 7-0 at the Cadet Ice Arena in February. After defeating No. 4 Sacred Heart in Friday's quarterfinal, the Lakers beat the Black Knights 4-2.

"Mercyhurst is a dangerous animal right now," Falcons coach Frank Serratore said.

The Falcons relied on second-period special teams to give them control against RIT.

"In this league, it often gets down to special teams and goaltending, which is exactly what happened tonight," Serratore said.

An even-strength goal from junior Mike Phillipich put the Falcons up by two. Less than 5 minutes later, a short-handed goal from sophomore Matt Fairchild from the point gave the Falcons a 3-0 lead. While on a power play with 2:42 remaining in the period, Brent Olson made it 4-0 when he tipped in a shot from Matt Charbonneau on the blue line for his second goal of the night.

"Matt made a great play there," Olson said.

Earlier in the second period, the Falcons denied RIT on a 5-on-3 opportunity.

"When you can shut down an advantage like that, it really gets your team going," Fairchild said.

Fairchild beat Tigers goalie Louis Menard to score his second goal and put the Falcons up 5-0 in the third period.

Olson one-timed a Josh Frider pass in front of the crease with more than 13 minutes remaining in the first.

"We came out to a really good start," Serratore said. "We knew we had to come out that way in an environment that was as hostile as that with so many RIT fans."

AHA GLANCE

Friday

Mercyhurst 4, Sacr ed He art 1

Saturday

Mercyhurst 4, Army 2 Air Force 5, RIT 0

Today

Air Force vs. Mercyhurst, 5:05 p.m. TODAY

AHA final, Air Force vs. Mercyhurst at Rochester, N.Y., 5:05 p.m., 1300 AM