COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Purple Eagles hockey team got a stellar performance from goaltender Jackson Teichroeb in net, but the offense struggled with just 14 shots on net for the game. Air Force tallied two third-period goals en route to a 3-0 victory over Niagara Friday night at the Cadet Ice Arena.
 
Teichroeb racked up a season-high 42 saves in net to keep the Purple Eagles (3-17-3, 3-12-2 Atlantic Hockey) in the game most of the way. It was the most saves in a game for the junior since stopping 47 against Holy Cross in game three of the 2015 Atlantic Hockey first round.
 
Before surrendering a third-period power play goal, Niagara killed their first four penalties of the game to give the team a season-high 18 consecutive penalty kills dating back to Jan. 9 versus Mercyhurst. The Niagara penalty kill is now 80-for-101 (79.2 percent) on the season, and 29-for-32 (90.6 percent) since January 1.
 
Air Force (11-9-3, 9-5-3 Atlantic Hockey) opened the scoring 1:57 into the game as Evan Okeley forced a turnover that led to a goal for Tyler Rostenkowski. Once the Purple Eagles settled into the pace of the game, they were able to establish more puck possession and time in the Air Force zone. TJ Sarcona and Nick Farmer generated some good chances late in the period, and Teichroeb finished the opening 20 minutes with 13 saves to keep Niagara within one.
 
Niagara struggled to get shots to the net in the second period as Air Force outshot the Purple Eagles 14-1 in the middle stanza. The Purple Eagles were able to kill off two Falcons power plays in the period, but were unable to generate a shot on goal in their lone man advantage of the second.
 
Kevin Patterson had a chance in the opening minute of the third to get Niagara on the board with a backhand chance right on top of the net, but Shane Starrett (14 saves) stopped that puck along with every other Niagara shot on the night. Erik Baskin tallied on the power play with 4:21 left to double Air Force's lead. Niagara pulled Teichroeb in the final 90 seconds, but could not put the puck in the net as the Falcons' Ben Kucera potted an empty-net goal for the 3-0 finish.
 
Saturday night presents another matchup for the Falcons and Purple Eagles, as the two squads return to Cadet Ice Arena to conclude the weekend series. Opening faceoff is set for 7:05 eastern time, with Jeremy White calling the game on 1340 AM WLVL and PurpleEagles.com/Watch.
 
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