Framed as a playoff-type game, the question was how would Air Force respond Saturday after a disheartening overtime loss Friday.
Air Force cleaned up many of the defensive errors that plagued it a night earlier, but the offense went MIA in a 4-0 defeat to Bentley at Waltham, Mass. The hosts extended their unbeaten streak to nine games (7-0-2) and have put themselves squarely in the Atlantic Hockey Conference conversation.
The loss marked the sixth time this season AFA has been shut out and the 10th time in 28 games it has been held to fewer than two goals.
“Last night, I was very disappointed in our play. We just gave goals away,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “The problem tonight was they just plain and simple were better than us. We played better tonight.”
Short circuiting
When Air Force made a mistake the hosts seemed to find ways to capitalize.
A first-period turnover resulted in a Bentley counter attack and Luke Orysiuk‘s goal with 8:29 left in the period. Luke Santerno struck with 6:58 left in the second after a longer Bentley stay in the AFA zone.
“We’ve got to play a 200-foot game. When we didn’t, they made us pay,” Serratore said. “I know it doesn’t show on the scoreboard we played a better game in terms of being accountable and playing with a purpose.”
Air Force brought a surge in the third period, but Bentley goalie Aidan Pelino gave no ground, stopping all 20 AFA shots, including all eight in the third. Jonathan Desbiens‘ goal with 4:29 to go effectively ended it and Matt Lombardozzi added an empty netter with 1:51 left.
“We got handed a big piece of humble pie, that team was better tonight,” Serratore added. “We went down swinging in the third period.”
Looking forward
The weekend sweep also could harm Air Force’s designs on finishing among the top teams in Atlantic hockey.
First-place AIC swept Niagara to build its lead to six points over Air Force (13-11-4, 11-8-3 AHC).
Bentley (12-11-3, 11-7-2 AHC) and Mercyhurst sit just one point back, and RIT is just two back. All of those teams are in action next weekend when the Falcons have a bye.
Notes
Air Force again was outshot, 29-20, but held another bit edge in face-offs (45-25). … AFA also went 9 for 9 on the penalty kill all weekend. “They scored eight even-strength goals, when a team does that, that’s scary,” Serratore said. … Air Force made two changes to its forward lines. Junior Pierce Pluemer and sophomore Shawn Knowlton entered the lineup, while sophomores Max Harper and Walker Sommer sat out. Sommer had played in AFA’s first 27 games of the season.
Up next
Air Force is off next weekend then will play host to Canisius in an Atlantic Hockey series on Feb. 15-16 at Cadet Arena. The Golden Griffins lost to Mercyhurst 5-3 on Friday and tied the Lakers on Saturday.
©First Line Editorial 2017-19
