The marching orders were direct – Air Force needed to be better defensively after it gave up a 2-0 lead in Friday’s 2-2 to Atlantic Hockey Conference rival Army West Point.

Not only did the Falcons accomplish that mission, but they found a way – in large part to their defense – to rally twice for a second consecutive 2-2 tie on Saturday at Cadet Arena.

Senior Matt Koch scored his third goal in the past four games to tie it 8:29 into the third period, and fellow blue liner Jake Levin made a timely play to set up Brady Tomlak‘s second-period strike for Air Force (11-8-3, 9-5-2 AHC), which remained in first place in AHC by a point over Mercyhurst and AIC.

“We scored two even-strength goals coming from behind against a team that is very tough to play against at even strength,” Falcons coach Frank Serratore. “Both teams fought hard. Good for Army, they had some guys out of their lineup but they came in and battled, showed some substance. Good for us, we took a step forward from last night.”

Saturday night smackdown

The game was intense and physical throughout. In other words, exactly what you’d expect when the only two service academies with Division I hockey clash.

“I thought tonight was really physical, including some hits up high,” Koch said. “There was a lot of talking back and forth. At the end of the day we respect each other off the ice, but it was definitely a battle on the ice.”

In the midst of the repeated physical confrontations in every zone, it’s remarkable just three penalties were called. More astonishing was that both Air Force penalties ended with the puck in the back of the Falcons’ net. Not only had Air Force killed off 17 consecutive crimes entering the game, but it had allowed one power-play goal in its previous 54 chances against.

“Outside of Billy Christopoulos, the best part of our game has been our penalty kill. Ironically, it was our penalty kill that let us down tonight,” Serratore said.

Army powers up

The Black Knights (8-11-3, 7-6-3 AHC) had the Falcons on their heels at the start, outshooting them 11-5 in the first period and capitalizing on Zack Mirageas‘ roughing penalty 4:18 in. Just 58 seconds later, Colin Bilek scored on Christopoulos (26 saves) from the right dot after defenseman Dalton MacAfee skated into the high slot and found the wing uncovered.

In light of what wasn’t being called, the hooking call on Erich Jaeger late in the second period seemed a bit innocuous. It also opened the door for MacAfee to score from the inside portion of the right circle. After 6-foot-5 winger Dominic Franco was knocked off the puck, Bilek pounced on it and quickly found MacAfee for a 2-1 lead.

“We weren’t happy too happy with how we played in the defensive zone (Friday) and wanted to tighten it up today,” Koch said. “We took a few steps backward last night, but I think it will be for the better in the long run. We’ve just got to get back together as a team, working on D zone coverage. We’ve got to take care of our home around Bill first and good things will come.”

Battling back

The Falcons took two different approaches to getting back into the game.

Tomlak centered a new line with sophomore wings Marshall Bowery and Walker Sommer, and the results were encouraging.

“I knew I had some fast guys on either side of me so I tried to stay underneath pucks, get pucks forward and let them chase it,” Tomlak said. “We were trying to play to each other’s strengths. They did a good job finding spots, working on the rush and using their legs to get down low. I thought it worked pretty well.”

So well that the junior, who also won 12 of 21 face-offs, brought the Falcons back the first time at 9:50 of the second period with his fourth goal of the season, beating Jared Dempsey (24 saves).

“It was a good five-man play,” he said. “We broke out well, I got it in the neutral zone and got a good dump. Levin crashed down the wall; it was a good pinch. He found me in the slot and I just turned and put it on net.”

Koch said some intel on Army had a direct impact on the second goal, which came in a period Air Force outshot the guests 9-3. It also came one shift after his D partner, Mirageas apparently had decided enough was enough and knocked three different Black Knights off their feet in the Falcons’ defensive zone.

Jaeger found Koch at the left point.

“Whenever we play Army we know they’ll layer and block any shot possible so I just waited for the guy to pass me and wanted to get (the puck) to the net,” Koch said. “Thankfully I got it to the net, and I got a little lucky and it went in.”

Mirageas had an assist on the goal, giving the blue line three points.

While the Falcons were fortunate to grab a point Friday, Saturday’s game had the feeling that either team could have won it.

“There’s no silver bullet, there’s no magic formula. There’s no secret pill you have to take. If you’re going to beat Army, you’ve got to go out and beat them,” Serratore said. “They’re not going to beat themselves. We just needed to stay after it, stay after it, stay after it, and we needed a goal to go through. Fortunately, Koch’s shot went through.

“I thought collectively we were better as a team.”

Air Force’s three stars

1. Matt Koch. The senior logged big minutes and scored the tying goal.
2. Billy Christopoulos. He made 26 saves and kept the game close when it could have gotten away from the Falcons early on.
3. Brady Tomlak. The trigger man on a newly formed line that impressed scored a second-period goal.

Up next

The Falcons travel to play Sacred Heart next weekend in an oddly scheduled series. They play the Pioneers at 12:05 p.m. Saturday at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn., and again Sunday at 2:05 p.m. at Yale Rink in New Haven, Conn.

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