Hockey: Falcons sweep 14th-ranked Quinnipiac, 3-1

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For the first time in school history, the Air Force Academy hockey team swept a ranked opponent as the Falcons beat 14th-ranked Quinnipiac, 3-1, in a non-conference college hockey game Oct. 20 at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena. The Falcons beat the Bobcats, 4-1, Oct. 19.

The Falcons improved to 2-0 for the first time since the 2000-01 season when they swept American International College. Quinnipiac fell to 1-2 on the season. With the win, head coach Frank Serratore earned his 200th career victory. He has won 151 games and needs just four more wins to become the all-time winningest coach in Academy hockey history.

The Falcons drew first blood with a power-play goal at 11:59 of the first period. Greg Flynn passed to Eric Ehn at the center point. Ehn's shot was tipped in by Michael Mayra for his first goal of the season. Neither team scored in the second period as the Falcons held a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.

The Academy skaters scored two goals early in the third period to take a 3-0 lead. Sophomore Jeff Hajner scored at the 3:45 mark from Brent Olson and Matt Fairchild. Fairchild gave Hajner the puck in the right corner. The center from Las Vegas skated up to the half boards, turned and sent a puck on net. The puck hit goaltender Peter Vetri in the leg and went in for Hajner's first of the season.

Just 57 seconds later, Flynn gave the Falcons a 3-0 lead from freshmen Scott Kozlak and Owen Kelly. Flynn's slap shot from the blue line on the left side beat Vetri high.

The Bobcats got on the board at the 12:05 mark with a power-play goal from David Marshall. Marshall dropped a pass to Bryan Leitch on the right wing. Leitch's shot was saved by Andrew Volkening, but the puck popped into the air in front of the crease. Marshall skated in and put back the rebound.

The Quinnipiac coach pulled the goaltender with 2:20 remaining, but the Bobcats got just one shot on net with the extra skater on the ice. Quinnipiac out-shot Air Force for the second straight night, this time by a 22-16 margin.

The Falcons were 1-for-6 on the power play while the Bobcats were 1-for-7. Volkening made 21 saves as he allowed just two goals in the series. Vetri stopped 13 of the 16 shots he faced.

The Academy opens Atlantic Hockey Association play Oct. 25 and 26 at Bentley College in Waltham, Mass. 

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