Don’t look now Air Force hockey fans, but the Falcons are above .500 at the latest point in a season since 2018.

The Falcons improved to 7-6 overall with Saturday night’s 5-2 victory against Mercyhurst at Erie, Pa. Air Force also upped its Atlantic Hockey record to 4-1 and won for the fourth time in five games.

Five players scored goals, and two of them — sophomore linemates Mason McCormick and Holt Oliphant — also added assists. Guy Blessing made 26 saves, and senior co-captain Luke Rowe added two assists.

Fast Start and Then …

First goals have been of paramount importance for Air Force, and McCormick made sure they got one Saturday 6:36 into the first. Remarkably, that was the Falcons’ only even-strength goal of the game.

The Lakers (2-6-2, 1-2-2) wasted little time seizing the lead two minutes later on strikes by Kyler Head and Mickey Burns.

But junior center Clayton Cosentino, one of the nation’s top face-off men, re-tied the score on a power play with a minute to play in the first. It was his third goal in two games (fifth overall) and fourth game in a row with a point.

AFA Catches Mercyhurst Short

Air Force’s next two goals came while short-handed — and both were scored by defensemen. First, sophomore Chris Hedden — the sophomore whose 14 points entering the game led AHA — then senior Sam Brennan, who scored early in the third.

Oliphant finished the scoring in the final minute with an empty-net goal after McCormick won a puck battle and advanced the puck to him. It was Oliphant’s fourth goal, matching his total from his freshman season.

Notes

The Falcons started the 2018-19 season 9-6. … The teams play Sunday at 2 p.m. Air Force then plays at Canisius next weekend.

©First Line Editorial 2023