COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo – The Mercyhurst University men's hockey team allowed three goals in a 78-second span in the closing minutes of the second period and suffered a 5-1 loss against the Falcons of Air Force in the 2014-15 regular season opener for both teams at the Cadet Ice Arena.

The Lakers, who have now lost three straight against Air Force, dropped to 11-14-3 lifetime against the Falcons.

This season marks the 16th year of Division I hockey at Mercyhurst, and, with the loss on Friday, the Lakers still have not won a regular season opener as a Division I program (0-15-1). The only non-loss of the 16 season openers was a 4-4 overtime tie at Michigan to start the 2010-11 campaign. Mercyhurst dropped to 10-5-1 lifetime in conference opening games since becoming a Division I member.

Special teams proved to be the difference, especially in the second period.

At the 7:42 mark of the middle frame, Air Force's A.J. Reid and Cole Gunner were both given minor penalties to give the Lakers full 5-on-3 power play opportunity. However, Mercyhurst could muster just one shot on goal as the Falcon defense blocked six Laker shot attempts during the 5-on-3 chance to keep Mercyhurst off the scoreboard.

Later in the period, Mercyhurst seniors Matthew Zay and Zac Frischmon received minor infractions 13 seconds apart to give the Falcons a 5-on-3 opportunity, and, unlike Mercyhurst's two-man advantage, Air Force made the Lakers pay.

A.J. Reid broke a 1-1 tie with his second goal of the game at the 16:56 mark on a beautiful tic-tac-toe passing play by the Falcons. Just 37 seconds later, on the 5-on-4 chance, Phil Boje blasted a shot, through a screen, from the left point that beat senior netminder Jimmy Sarjeant for a 3-1 advantage.

But, the Falcons were not done. After a Mercyhurst turnover inside the neutral zone, a breakaway goal by Erik Baskin just 41 seconds later, completed the three-goal in 78-second span to break the game open.

Air Force finished the night 3-of-5 on the power play, scoring its first three goals of the contest with the man advantage. Meanwhile, the Lakers were 0-for-4 on the power play.

Reid gave the Falcons a 1-0 advantage at the 6:57 mark of the opening period when he beat Sarjeant with a quick wrist shot from the left wing with just two seconds remaining on the game's first power play. Gunner and Johnny Hrabovsky had the assists.

Senior Chris Bodo tied the game at 1-1 with 6:38 left in the opening period, beating Air Force goaltender Chris Truehl for, what proved to be, Mercyhurst's only goal of the night. Bodo's 40th career goal was assisted by Frischmon and junior Alec Shields.

Mercyhurst was outshot 11-8 in the opening twenty minutes.

Air Force's Mike McDonald gave the Falcons the final goal of the night at the 5:03 mark of the third period when he beat Sarjeant over the glove hand on a blast from the right point. Jordan Himley and Ben Kucera had the assists.

The Air Force defense, backstopped by Truehl, smothered the Laker offense all night, limiting Mercyhurst to one goal on just 20 shots. Last season, the Lakers had the third-highest scoring offense in the country, averaging 3.61 goals per game.

Meanwhile, Sarjeant suffered his first-ever loss in a conference game. The reigning Atlantic Hockey Association Player of the Year and Goaltender of the Year, Sarjeant went 14-0-5 last season in conference play. The Aurora, Ontario native stopped 21-of-26 shots on Friday night to suffer the setback.

Mercyhurst and Air Force will conclude the weekend series on Saturday night at the Cadet Ice Arena. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. MT, 9:05 p.m. on the east coast.