Second of two road games with a rare afternoon start two time zones east? No problem. Air Force rallied in the third period for the second consecutive game, beating Sacred Heart, 3-2, and sweeping their second consecutive Atlantic Hockey series Saturday.

Sophomore Kyle Haak and junior Erik Baskin scored in the first five minutes of the third period, and sophomore Shane Starrett (14 saves) ensured that was all the Falcons (11-6-3, 8-3-1 AHC) needed to win their fourth in a row.

The triumph pulled the Falcons to one point of first-place Army West Point in the AHC standings, and AFA has a game in hand.

Air Force dominated much of the game, particularly the second two periods.

The teams traded goals in the first period, with defenseman Matt Koch staking AFA to a lead 7:04 in, but Sacred Heart (6-12-2, 4-10 AHC) tied it 3:25 later.

Despite outshooting the Pioneers 14-6 in the second period, the Falcons went into the second intermission down 2-1 after surrendering Vito Bavaro‘s goal 6:12 into the period.

It was all Falcons from there as Haak scored his fifth goal in five games. Hank’s seventh goal of the season was unassisted and gave him a team-high 17 points.

Baskin struck 2:25 later off passes from Tyler Ledford and Evan Giesler, who has 16 points.

The Falcons went 0-for-5 on the power play and killed off all four of their short-handed situations, making them 12 for their past 12 PKs. Starrett has allowed just four goals in his past four starts.

The Falcons will stay back east all week in advance of next weekend’s AHC series at Mercyhurst.