No. 19 Air Force started solidly enough, but Bemidji State took over the game in the third period of a 4-1 Beavers victory Friday night in a non-conference college hockey game at Bemidji, Minn.
Junior Matt Serratore made his season debut for the Falcons after missing their first four games because of a concussion and gave them a 1-0 lead late in the first period when he put in a rebound of a Jordan Himley shot. It was Serratore’s first NCAA game in his hometown, against a team coached by his father Tom.
The Beavers (2-0-1) countered on a sharp-angle shot by Adam Brady just 2:45 into the second period to tie it. The Falcons outshot the Beavers, 11-5, in the second period after being outshot by the hosts 10-5 in the first.
The third period was all Bemidji, as the Beavers got an early power-play goal and a late shorthanded goal from Kyle Bauman sandwiched around an even-strength tally by Myles Fitzgerald.
The Falcons managed just three shots on goal in the decisive period, while the hosts had 11 and finished with a 26-19 shots on goal advantage.
Billy Christopoulos made 22 saves for Air Force.
By the numbers
The Falcons did not score in three power-play opportunities, but allowed the Beavers to strike once on their four man advantages. … Air Force won 32 of 59 faceoffs (54 percent), led by Tyler Ledford capturing 13 of 21 draws (62 percent).
AFA’s three stars
- Matt Serratore. The junior returned home and scored the opening goal in his season debut. His five shots were more than a quarter of the Falcons’ overall total.
- Tyler Ledford. He hasn’t racked up the points yet, but he’s doing everything else – winning faceoffs, initiating offense and playing improved defense.
- Billy Christopoulos. The junior didn’t get a lot of support but kept the Falcons in it until the closing minutes.
Up next
The Falcons and Beavers play game 2 of the series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. MDT. The game can be heard on AM 1300 and at goairforcefalcons.com
