Jan. 6, 2007

Stats

Erie, Pa. - Air Force scored three times in the second period and went on from there to defeat Mercyhurst 3-1 Saturday night at the Ice Center to sweep the two-game weekend series. The Falcons, one of two new teams in Atlantic Hockey, improved to 11-8-3 overall and to 8-3-3 in the conference. The Lakers dropped to 4-14-4 and 4-10-2 respectively.

The Lakers, bothered by penalties all night, survived three minor infractions in the opening period as the teams went to their dressing rooms scoreless. The Falcons outshot Mercyhurst 12-5 in the first twenty minutes.

But Air Force capitalized on five more minors and a misconduct in the middle stanza to score twice with the man advantage and a third time at even strength. Junior defenseman Matt Charbonneau and the nation's leading scorer, junior Eric Ehn, sandwiched power play markers around an even strength goal from senior Theo Zacour. All the damage came against senior goaltender Jordan Wakefield. Air Force owned a commanding 37-11 advantage in shots after forty minutes thanks to a 25-6 margin in the second frame.

The Lakers averted a shutout and brought their fans to life when freshman defenseman Cullen Eddy blasted a slap shot past Air Force senior goalie Ben Worker at 8:13 of the third. Eddy was helped by junior Ryan Toomey and freshman Cody Collins. But the Lakers could get no closer thanks to seven more penalties in the finale, including a major and a game misconduct. All told, the Lakers were assessed 16 penalties for 51 minutes. Air Force totaled 14 power play chances as a result, scored twice, and took 30 of its 55 shots with the manpower advantage. The Falcons were penalized four times for eight minutes as the Lakers finished 0 for 3. Air Force outshot Mercyhurst 55-19.

After a disappointing outing Friday, Wakefield (1-6-1) was brilliant in defeat, turning aside 52 Air Force scoring attempts. Worker, who saw his first action of the season, made 18 stops.

Mercyhurst will travel to the conference's other service academy, Army, next weekend for a pair of games. The Black Knights trail the all-time series 14-5, but won three of four meetings last season.