Hockey: Army beats Air Force 2-0

  • Published
  • By Dave Toller
  • Athletic Media Relations
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNEWS) --  Army goaltender Josh Kassel made 36 saves to lift Army to a 2-0 win over Air Force in an Atlantic Hockey Association game Friday, Jan. 20, at the Cadet Ice Arena.

The two teams split the series as Air Force won Friday's game, 4-1. Air Force fell to 12-9-5 overall and 9-4-5 in the league. Army is now 11-9-3, 11-6-3 in the AHA. Army moved into second place in the league with 25 points. Air Force is in fourth place with 23 points.

The loss ended Air Force's five-game unbeaten streak and an eight-game unbeaten streak at home. The Falcons were shutout for the third time this season.

After a scoreless first period, Army took its first lead of the series midway through the second period. After back-to-back penalties on Josh Schaffer and Michael Mayra, Army had a full, two-minute, 5-on-3 advantage. Just over 90 seconds into the power play, Chase Podsaid put back a rebound of a Tim Manthey shot at the 12:13 mark for a 1-0 lead.

Early in the third period, the Black Knights took a 2-0 lead when Luke Flicek's wrister went through traffic and beat AFA goalie Ben Worker high for his 13th of the season.

Kassel tied his career-high with 36 saves and posted the second shutout of his career. AFA out-shot Army, 36-10, in the game. Worker made eight saves for the Falcons and suffered the first loss of his career. Army was 1-for-4 on the power play while AFA was 0-for-3.

"Josh Kassel was outstanding tonight," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We played hard and played pretty well, but he was spectacular. When they get a lead, they are very difficult to play against. These games always come down to special teams and goaltending. They scored a power-play goal and we didn't. Our goalie wasn't bad, but their goalie was better."

Air Force travels to Waltham, Mass., for a two-game Atlantic Hockey series with Bentley College, Friday-Saturday, Jan. 26-27, at 7:05 p.m. EST.

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