ROCHESTER, NY – No. 19 Air Force Academy (20-8-5, 17-5-3 Atlantic Hockey) scored two third period goals to snap a 2-2 tie and hand the RIT men's hockey team (12-19-1, 12-14-0 Atlantic Hockey) a 4-2 loss in front of 3,082 fans at the Gene Polisseni Center Friday night.

Air Force forward Evan Giesler scored the hat-trick, including the game-winning goal with 9:55 left in regulation. Erik Baskin scored the empty-net insurance goal with 25 seconds left and added a pair of assists. Falcons goaltender Shane Starrett stopped 34 of 36 shots for his 19th win of the season.

Liam Kerins (Caledon, Ontario/North York Rangers) and Jordan Peacock (Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Cougars) scored second period goals for the Tigers, who fall to eighth in the Atlantic Hockey standings with 24 points. Goaltender Mike Rotolo (Rochester, NY/Cedar Rapids Roughriders) stopped 37 of 40 shots in the loss.

With the score tied 2-2 entering the third period, the Tigers thought they had taken the lead three minutes into the frame on the power-play, as a shot by Erik Brown (Keene, Ontario/Kemptville 73's) was stopped by Starrett, but the rebound popped up into the air and swatted out of midair by Abbott Girduckis (Belleville, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) and into the net by Myles Powell (Courtenay, British Columbia/Cowichan Valley Capitals). The play went to video review where it was determined that the puck was put into the net with a high stick, negating the goal.

Air Force would generate a handful of chances after and with 9:55 left, Giesler put home a rebound in tight off a point shot from Dylan Abood past Rotolo to give them a 3-2 lead.

RIT would press and with just under two minutes left, Brown would get two golden chances on a scrum in front denied by Starrett. RIT would pressure with Rotolo pulled in the final minute, but the Falcons would clear and Baskin would score the empty netter and secure the win.

Air Force out-shot the Tigers, 41-36, including 17-6 in the third period. The Falcons were 1-for-4 with the man-advantage, while RIT was 0-for-4 despite firing 12 shots on goal.

"I liked our effort or play tonight, we played well, but Air Force got into their system and wore us down a little bit in the third period," said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson.

Air Force stunned the Polisseni Center faithful by scoring just 25 seconds in, as Giesler snapped a shot from the slot right off a clean face-off win by Evan Feno through the legs of Rotolo for his seventh goal of the season.

RIT would rebound after the goal and get several good chances later in the period, but could not solve Starrett or the Falcons defense. Kerins would have RIT's best chance with about six minutes left, getting space in the slot and wiring a hard shot that Starrett was able to get a pad on, preserving the Falcons lead. In addition, Mark Logan (Calgary, Alberta/Brooks Bandits ) had a great chance in the slot off a feed from Max Mikowski (Cheekotwaga, NY/Buffalo Jr. Sabres) denied by Starrett as well.

The Tigers came out and played a brilliant second period, out-shooting the Falcons, 18-13 and out-scoring them, 2-1 as the game was deadlocked at 2-2 after 40 minutes of play.

Right from the start of the period, RIT came out and generated chance after scoring chance. In the opening minute, Abbott Girduckis (Belleville, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) was robbed by the glove hand of Starrett on a rebound in tight. Moments later, Danny Smith (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) broke in and fired a shot that Starrett stopped with the rebound hopping right to a charging Girduckis. Girduckis looked to have an open net, but had his shot impeded by a strong defensive play of Giesler, as Starrett was able to get back and make the save.

RIT would not be denied however, as 6:15 into the period, Kerins would intercept a Falcons clearing attempt, walk into the slot and rip a perfectly placed wrist shot over the blocker of Starrett for his 10th goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1.

Play would get very physical, with both teams throwing their bodies around for a series of thunderous checks.

The Tigers would continue to mount the pressure and take their first lead of the game with 7:06 left in the period, as Peacock would jam home a rebound in tight off a shot by Darren Brady (Lake Orion, MI/New Jersey Titans) for his third goal of the season. Smith also assisted on the goal.

Air Force would get a power-play late in the period and tie the game, as Giesler was left all alone at the top of the crease to deposit a perfect feed from Baskin for his second goal of the game and eighth of the year.

Tonight's contest was the third of four meetings between the two schools this season. Air Force holds a 26-20-4 edge in the all-time series, including a 24-17-4 mark since RIT moved to Division I in 2005. Air Force won both previous meetings earlier in the season at Cadet Ice Arena in Colorado Springs, by identical 4-3 scores on Nov. 11-12.

Before the game, RIT honored President Bill Destler with lifelong season tickets. Destler, who joined the university as president in 2007 is retiring in June.

RIT and Air Force wrap up its regular season series Saturday night from the Polisseni Center at 7:05 p.m. RIT will honor seniors Caleb Cameron (Sundridge, Ontario/Listowel Cyclones), Michael Holland (Rye, NH/Chicago Steel), Garrett McMullen (Churchville, NY/Trail Smoke Eaters), Alex Perron-Fontaine (St. Mathieu de Beloeil, Quebec/Chilliwack Chiefs), Rotolo, Todd Skirving (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Sioux Falls Stampede), and Danny Smith (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) before the game.

"We have to come back tomorrow and be a little better to get the split," said Wilson.