Air Force wins first Atlantic Hockey game, 5-1 over Bentley

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  Mike Phillipich and Eric Ehn each scored two goals to lead the Air Force to a 5-1 win over Bentley in an Atlantic Hockey Association game Oct. 20 at the academy's Cadet Ice Arena.

The game was the Air Force's first ever Atlantic Hockey contest. The Falcons improved to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the AHA. Bentley fell to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the league.

After a scoreless first period, the Falcons erupted for three second-period goals. Billy Devoney got the Falcons on the board at 5:03 of the second period. Andrew Ramsey stick-handled past a defenseman at the top of the circle and then made a pass through the slot to Devoney skating down the right wing. Devoney's goal was his second of the season and was also assisted by Phillipich.

Phillipich then scored the next two goals of the period. His first came at 7:45 from freshman defenseman Chris Hepp. Hepp made a big hit at center ice and Phillipich skated the puck into the zone and fired a wrister past Bentley goalie Ray Jean. Phillipich gave the Falcons a 3-0 lead at 16:21 from Brian Gineo and Ehn. The Falcons were putting pressure on Jean, and Phillipich took the puck from behind the net, skated out to the bottom of the circle and scored his second of the season.

Early in the third period, Bentley scored to cut the Falcon lead to 3-1. Mark Zarbo was skating down the slot and took a feed from the boards. His shot beat the Air Force's freshman Andrew Volkening, who made his first career start. Andrew Goberstein and Mark Menzione assisted on the play.

Ehn scored the next two goals to seal the victory. His first came at the 9:21 mark after the Falcons won a faceoff in the offensive end. Hepp fed Gineo at the point who took a slap shot that was re-directed in by Ehn. Then with 3:25 remaining, Gineo started a play behind his own net and sent a pass to Phillipich up the boards. Phillipich found Ehn in the neutral zone who skated in 2-on-1 against the Bentley goalie. Ehn's shot beat Jean for his seventh goal in five games this season.

"This win was more of a relief than anything," coach Frank Serratore said. "We needed to win a hard-fought game and have a good performance after what happened in Alaska last week, and we were successful in doing that. I think we brought some closure to the Alaska trip with (the) win."

The Air Force out-shot Bentley in every period and 33-22 for the game. Volkening stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced. Jean made 28 saves for Bentley. Bentley was 1-for-7 on the power play while Air Force was 0-for-5. All five of the Air Force's goals were even strength.

"Volkening played very well," added goaltender coach Grady Hunt. "He made the stops we needed him to make, and he also made some very timely saves in the second period. He was very confident in the net."

The same two teams conclude the two-game league series tonight at 7:05 p.m. at the Cadet Ice Arena.