AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Niagara men's hockey team dropped a 4-3 road contest at Air Force to open up another weekend of Atlantic Hockey action. Despite the Purple Eagles earning tallies on the penalty kill, power play, and at even strength, two third period power play goals by the Falcons ultimately proved to be the deciding factor.
 
Game Recap

• Four minutes into the game, Air Force entered Niagara's zone on a rush, but the late shot from in close was stopped by Brian Wilson, while the streaking forward was bodied into the goal frame by Jared Brandt on a perfect check.
• After a late power play goal in the first put Air Force on top, 1-0, Jon Hill's second career goal leveled the score seven minutes into the second. An initial shot from Alex Truscott was saved by Air Force, but a big rebound jumped right onto the stick of Hill, who capitalized despite taking heavy defensive pressure.
• With less than three minutes left in the second period, Air Force appeared to retake the lead on a scramble in Wilson's crease. The play went to review, however, after the officials called Air Force for a cross check during the mayhem. The officials came out of the box and overturned the initial call, wiping the goal off the board, and also sending the Falcons to the penalty kill.
• Air Force did regain the lead 4:16 into the third period, but a tripping call six seconds later put the Purple Eagles on their fourth power play of the evening. With time winding down, Eric Cooley nearly struck goal, but Justin Kendall's determination to follow up the play helped Niagara hit paydirt, as he popped the puck top shelf to make it 2-2.
• An Air Force power play – with six total players in the penalty box – resulted in the Falcons taking a 3-2 lead with 5:46 left in regulation. After both boxes emptied, Niagara was called again for a hook, forcing the Purple Eagles to go back onto the penalty kill. 59 seconds into the kill, Truscott got his second point of the night and buried a game-tying, shorthanded strike to make it 3-3. However, the Falcons scored with four seconds left in the man advantage to go up by one goal once again.

 
Up Next

• The series continues tomorrow night, with a 7:05 p.m. Eastern Time puck drop from the Academy.

 
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