That Air Force won just the second NCAA Tournament game in program history was not a surprise. The No. 15 Falcons (27-9-5) handled a difficult non-conference schedule and emerged from a hard-fought Atlantic Hockey tournament as champions.
Rather it was how the Falcons defeated No. 8 Western Michigan, 5-4, in a first-round East Regional game Friday that was surprising. The five goals were as many as the Falcons had scored in their three previous playoff games, when they were more reliant on goalie Shane Starrett, who made 10 saves Friday, including 10 in the third period when the Broncos rallied from a 4-1 deficit with 16 minutes to go.
Kyle Haak scored two goals, including a shorthanded breakaway, linemate Jordan Himley a goal and two assists and defensemen contributed four points in Air Force’s heart-stopping victory over a resilient Broncos team. It was Air Force’s first victory in three tries against WMU this season after a tie and loss at Kalamazoo, Mich., in November.
“We scored a pile of goals tonight and one of the things, knock on wood, we’ve been able to do since the playoffs have started is we’ve been playing with a lead,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “We haven’t had to chase the scoreboard. These games with competition like this, scoring the first goal and playing with a lead is huge and we’ve been able to do that.”
The victory was just the second in the NCAAs in program history for the Falcons, and it sends them to today’s regional championship final against No. 2 Harvard, the region’s top seed.
Himley got the Falcons on the board with his team-high 21st goal when he collected a rebound of defenseman Matt Koch‘s shot in the circle left of WMU goalie Ben Blacker and lifted a shot into the net 56 seconds into the game.
Haak extended the lead halfway through the first when he stole the puck at center ice, skated in alone on Blacker and snapped a shot past him on the stick side while the Falcons were killing a penalty. Air Force’s No. 1 penalty kill was successful on both of Western’s chances.
“Forcing the turnovers, we’re prepared to hunt, we’re going to pressure their defensemen, and try and get on the forecheck as quick as we can, use a five man unit to turn the puck over and then when you get your opportunity, shoot the puck,” Haak said. “As far as the turnover on the short-handed goal, I’ve been working on low glove the past week just because I was feeling that and so that’s where I put it. That’s where I’ve been preparing to put the puck and that’s what happened.”
After Western’s Frederick Tiffels cut the deficit in half last in the first, Haak struck again 5:05 into the second on a rebound goal very similar to Himley’s, corralling the puck, turning and firing it past Blacker. In the process, he became the first Falcon to score twice in an NCAA game. Haak’s 14th goal of the season set the stage for a wild, five-goal third period.
Himley had a hand in the fourth goal, stickhandling near the left circle before firing a cross-ice pass to Phil Boje, who stepped into a shot at the right circle to make it 4-1 with his ninth goal of the season, 3:48 into the third period.
Western went to work after that, getting goals from Griffen Molino and captain Sheldon Dries just 23 seconds apart, the second at 5:11.
“It was definitely a little hectic but again, we relied on our leadership to calm us down,” Himley said.
Air Force re-established a two-goal lead just 1:34 later when Ledford scored what eventually would be the game-winning goal after a nice pass from A.J. Reid from the right circle found the center flying into the zone, Ledford went in on Blacker and tucked the puck around his left pad to make it 5-3.
The Broncos pulled Blacker in the final three minutes and closed the gap to 5-4 on Tiffels’ six-on-five goal with 1:50 to go in the game.
“We were working on six on five during the week, our coaching staff prepares us during the media timeouts to face the situations that are going to come upon us in the next few minutes,” Haak said.
Added Serratore, “The turning point for us was getting that fifth goal and we sure needed it. I could not be happier for our guys or more proud of them. Your best players have to be your best players in big games and they were tonight.”
Tonight’s game
The Falcons will play No. 2 Harvard, which defeated Providence, 3-0, on Friday, at 6:30 p.m. MDT (ESPNU).
“Now we get a chance to play Harvard with a chance to go to the Frozen Four,” Serratore said. “We know Harvard has a skilled and talented team. I watched them dismantle Boston University in the Beanpot and BU has a pile of NHL talent. We know they are a great team.
“I also know that all the Italians are happy with Serratore and (Harvard coach Ted) Donato in the championship game.”
The Crimson feature a team with two elite scoring lines and, like the Falcons, have an athletic 6-foot-5 goalie in junior Merrick Madsen. Harvard favors initiating much of its offense from low in the offensive zone and finding its skilled group of forwards or an incoming defenseman in the slot.