Air Force Academy

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Bemidji State overcame an early Falcon lead for a 4-2 win over Air Force in a College Hockey America game Friday, Jan. 7, at the John Glas Fieldhouse in Bemidji, Minn.

Bemidji State improved to 10-7-0 overall and 5-2 in the CHA. The Falcons have now lost three in the row and fall to 9-8-2 overall and 3-4 in the league.

Air Force got off to a great start with two goals in the first 38 seconds of the game. Falcon defenseman Brian Gineo skated the puck into the offensive zone and took a shot from just inside the blue line that hit goaltender Layne Sedevie in the chest. The puck bounced over his shoulder and went into the net just 18 seconds into the game. Gineo's sixth goal of the season came from Brandon Merkosky and Andrew Ramsey. Just 20 seconds later, the Falcons scored on a rush up ice. Seth Pelletier's back-hander from the top of the crease beat Sedevie for a 2-0 lead. Pelletier's fourth of the season came from Matt Bader and Matt Charbonneau. After the second goal, Sedevie was pulled from the net and replaced by freshman Matt Climie.

Bemidji State blazed out of the locker room in the second period and scored a short-handed goal just 26 seconds into the period. Andrew Murray took the puck into the zone and fed Brendan Cook on a 2-on-0 rush. Cook slid the puck past the diving Peter Foster to make the score 2-1. Air Force had a golden opportunity shortly after as the Falcons had 40 seconds of 5-on-3 advantage followed by the remainder of a full power play and were unable to score. Midway through the period, the Beavers scored two power-play goals for a 3-2 lead. Murray tied the game at 13:25 from Rob Sirianni and Cook. Cook's shot was saved by Foster, but Murray batted in the rebound for his 10th goal of the season. Less than 40 seconds later, Cook scored on another Beaver power play from Sirianni and Peter Jonsson. Jonsson made the pass from behind the net to Cook in the slot.

An up-tempo third period did not see a goal until the final minute. The Beavers outshot the Falcons, 10-4, in the period, but both teams continued the fast and physical pace. With 1:06 remaining in the game, Andrew Ramsey drew a high-sticking penalty on BSU's Cook and the Falcons went on the power play. Serratore pulled Foster from the net, giving AFA a two-man advantage. However, a turnover near the blue line was picked up by BSU's Lou Garritan. Garritan skated the puck near the Falcon blue line and slid it into the net for a 4-2 lead.

Foster made 24 saves for the Falcons while Climie, who played the final 59 minutes, made 17 saves. BSU was 2-for-4 on the power play and added two short-handed goals.

"We got a lucky break on the first goal and then Pelletier roared up the ice and scored with a backhand missile," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We got a lead and that is what we have to do. We played a very good game, but we have to score more goals. We can't judge the way we played with the scoreboard. We just didn't score enough. The culprit was our special teams. We didn't score on six power plays and they scored two power-play goals and two short-handed goals."

The same two teams conclude the league series Saturday, Jan. 8, at 7:05 p.m. CST.

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