ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Senior Evan Feno scored the game-winner and senior Billy Christopoulos made 18 saves as Air Force defeated RIT, 3-1, in an Atlantic Hockey Conference game Friday, Nov. 30, at the Gene Polisseni Center in Rochester, N.Y. Air Force improved to 7-6-0 overall and ended a two-game losing skid. The Falcons are no 7-4-0 in conference play.
After a scoreless first period, RIT (6-5-1, 4-3-1 AHC) took the early lead in a four-on-four situation. With Air Force on the power play, Tomlak’s shot slid through the pads of RIT goalie Logan Drackett and just wide of the far post. On the play, Air Force’s Kyle Haak was called for goaltender interference. On the rush, Tiger defenseman Dan Willett scored from Abott Girduckis at 2:14 of the second. Late in the period, Trevor Stone drew his second penalty of the game. At the start of the power play, Walker Sommer’s shot went off the post, but the Falcons kept the puck in the zone. Mirageas funneled a puck toward the goal and Stone’s shot in tight was saved. Kieran Durgan cleaned up the rebound for his team-leading sixth goal of the season with 1:03 left in the second.
With the score tied at 1-1 midway through the third period, Matt Koch’s shot was saved. As the puck came free under Drackett, Feno poked it in for his sixth of the season at 7:09. Later in the period, Matt Pulver knocked down a puck in the neutral zone and skated in on a breakaway. With a quick forehand-backhand move, Pulver netted his second of the season at 15:32 for a 3-1 lead. With 1:10 left in the game, RIT pulled its goalie. Christopoulos made a pair of saves as he returned to the lineup after missing the last four games due to injury.
Air Force outshot RIT, 29-19, in the game. Air Force was 1-for-3 on the power play while RIT was 0-for-4. Air Force has killed 18 straight opponent power plays.
“I’m really proud of our guys,” head coach Frank Serratore said. “RIT is a good team. We out-worked a hard-working team tonight. It was good to see Billy back in there and playing well. We won the special teams, won the goaltending, won on the road and came from behind. I couldn’t be happier. We put a lot of energy and heart into this game and it paid off.”
The same two teams conclude the two-game league series on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7:05 pm ET in Rochester, N.Y.
