USAF Academy, Co. – The Purple Eagles hockey team got off to a strong start against the Air Force Falcons, carrying a 1-0 lead through 40 minutes of play. Air Force came out in the third period and rallied to come back, outshooting Niagara 17-4 in the final period of play and sending the Purple Eagles to a 2-1 loss Friday night at Cadet Ice Arena.
Guillaume Therien made his first start in goal since Nov. 18 and made 36 saves to lead the Purple Eagles. Tanner Lomsnes picked up his second power-play goal of the season, giving him points in each of Niagara’s last two games.
Game Summary
· Final Score: Air Force 2, Niagara 1
· Niagara Goal Scorers: Tanner Lomsnes
· Niagara Assists: Johnny Curran, Kris Spriggs
· In Goal: Guillaume Therien (1-4-0) – 2 GA, 36 SV
· Power Plays: Niagara – 1-for-3 (4 SOG); Air Force – 0-for-4 (11 SOG)
· Records: Niagara – 2-12-3 (2-7-2 AHC); Air Force – 8-6-3 (5-3-1 AHC)
· Location: Cadet Ice Arena – USAF Academy, Co.
· Attendance: 1694
Game Recap
· The Purple Eagles and Falcons opened the contest with a penalty-filled first period, as both sides received three power-play opportunities. Niagara killed all three Air Force power plays in the first 20 minutes, and the Purple Eagles capitalized on a 4-on-3 opportunity.
· Johnny Curran fed a cross-ice pass to Kris Spriggs. Spriggs settled the puck and found Tanner Lomsnes for the tip-in goal past Air Force goaltender Shane Starrett.
· Niagara held Air Force at bay in the second period as well, as both sides managed six shots on goal in the middle stanza.
· The Purple Eagles’ best chance of the second came on a late power-play, as Johnny Curran was set up with a one-time shot on the left wing that was denied by Starrett.
· Air Force came out with a strong effort in the third period, outshooting Niagara 17-4 in the final period and scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals.
· With 11:15 to play, the Falcons broke in on a 3-on-2 rush and Jordan Himley completed the play with a low snap shot that beat Therien to make it 1-1.
· Just over two minutes later, Air Force’s Evan Feno carried the puck from behind the Niagara net up and around the defense, and fired a wrist shot over the blocker of Therien to make it 2-1.
· The Purple Eagles came out with a pair of strong chances after Air Force took the lead. Keegan Harper had an open look off a 4-on-2 rush turned away by Starrett, and Nick Farmer just missed the goal on a tip in front of the Falcon’ net.
· With 4:37 to play, Larry Smith was called for checking from behind, putting Niagara on the penalty kill for the remainder of the game. Air Force generated five shots but Therien kept the score at 2-1 through the end of regulation.
Coach’s Corner
· Head coach David Burkholder: “We were on our heels in the third period, and they eventually capitalized on a couple of defensive breakdowns. It was a really good effort from Guillaume in net. He almost stole us the game in net.”
Inside the Numbers
· Tanner Lomsnes scored his second goal of the season, his first since scoring a power-play tally Oct. 18 at Mercyhurst.
· Niagara has now scored a power-play goal in four-straight games for the second time this season, and the team has been held without a power-play marker in just four of 17 games.
· Therien’s 36 saves were his third-most in a game this season. He set a career-high with 51 saves at Penn State on Nov. 3.
· The Purple Eagles blocked 19 shots in Friday’s game, compared to Air Force’s nine. Vinny Muto blocked six shots, the most by a Purple Eagle in a single game this season.
· Muto now ranks first in Atlantic Hockey, and is tied for seventh in the NCAA, with 38 blocked shots this season. His career high for blocked shots in a season came in 2013-14, when he blocked 50 in 37 games as a freshman.
· Stanislav Dzakhov had a three-game scoring streak (3+1) snapped in the loss at Air Force.
Up Next
· Niagara and Air Force conclude the weekend series Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7:05 p.m. Jeremy White has the play-by-play call on 1340 AM WLVL.
