| 11/9/2007 9:25:39 PM
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ROCHESTER, NY – Scott Kozlak's goal with 3:40 left in overtime lifted Air Force (5-2-0, 3-2-0 AHA) to a come-from-behind, 2-1 overtime win over the RIT men's hockey team (2-4-0, 1-2-0 AHA) in front of 2,039 fans at Ritter Arena on Friday evening.
Both teams played a rough, defensive style that resembled more of a playoff game in March, rather than a regular season game in November.
Kozlak tipped in a pass from Owen Kelly, who got a feed from Blake Page, who dove for a loose puck to keep the rush alive. Kozlak was able to tip the past Louis Menard (Chicoutimi, PQ/Ottawa Jr. Senators) (Chicoutimi, PQ), who had no chance on the play.
The loss was Menard's first in Atlantic Hockey play, breaking a 12-game winning streak dating back to last season.
RIT Head Coach was not surprised that it was such as close game.
"It was the type of game we were expecting," said Wilson. "They've got a good team and are very well coached. I thought we played a good game tonight."
Air Force, trailing 1-0 heading into the third period, got the equalizer with 9:56 left in regulation, as Brett Nylander tallied on a rebound off a scramble in front of the Tiger net.
The Tigers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead just 1:40 in, as Matt Smith (Toronto, ON/Kitchener Dutchmen) (Toronto, ON) flipped a shot towards the Air Force net that rattled off a Falcon defenseman and past Falcons net-minder Andrew Volkening. The goal was Smith's fifth of the season.
RIT kept coming and recorded 11 consecutive shots on goal during the period, including six on three consecutive power-plays. Volkening was great during a 1:24 two-man advantage for the Tigers, stopping a handful of quality chances, including a sliding save on a point blank shot by RIT's Anton Kharin (Twin Lake, MI/Bay State Breakers) (Moscow, Russia).
Air Force had a minute of 5-on-3 time later in the period, but the Tiger penalty killing was stout, not allowing a single shot.
RIT out-shot Air Force 14-5 over the first 20 minutes.
Both goalies shined in the second period, as the score remained 1-0 after two periods of play.
Menard's best save came on a partial breakaway by Brent Olson, as he stuck his pad out to keep the puck out of the net. With Air Force on a power-play in the final seconds of the frame, Menard made a great pad stop on a low point-blank shot by Eric Ehn.
Volkening made a four straight saves during a Tiger power-play early in the period, and then stopped Brent Alexin (West Seneca, NY/Buffalo Jr. Sabres)'s (West Seneca, NY) redirection from in front of the Falcon net later on.
Both goaltenders were excellent throughout, as Volkening made 36 saves to pick up his fifth win of the season, and Menard stopped 27 shots.
Menard's best save of the night came with 15:52 left in the third period, as he robbed Owen Kelly with a great glove save from right in front of the Tiger net.
The all-time series between the two clubs is now knotted at 6-6-2. RIT is 3-4-2 against the Falcons since RIT moved to Division I in 2005.
Last season, RIT went 2-1-1 against Air Force, winning a pair of games at Ritter Arena in February. The Falcons handed RIT its only shutout last season, winning 3-0 in Colorado Springs in November. The two teams skated to a 4-4 tie the following night. Air Force out-scored RIT 12-11 in the four match-ups a year ago.
The two teams meet once again on Saturday night at Ritter Arena at 7:05 p.m.
