Air Force Academy

Behind solid goaltending on both sides, Air Force and Lakehead University skated to a 2-2 overtime tie in an exhibition game Monday, Oct. 10, at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena.

Lakehead, a Canadian university from Thunder Bay, Ontario, was playing its third game in 48 hours as the Thunderwolves faced Denver on Saturday and Colorado College on Sunday. Air Force was playing its third game in 72 hours as it played on Friday and Saturday.

An up-tempo first period saw the Falcons out-shoot the Thunderwolves, 15-5, but the score was tied a 1-1 after one period. Lakehead opened the scoring at the 2:22 mark of the first period as Michael Jacobsen scored on a 5-on-3 situation. His shot from the slot beat Falcon goalie Ian Harper high to the stick side.

Six minutes later, the Falcons capitalized on a 5-on-4 power play. Senior defenseman Brooks Turnquist's slap shot from the point tied the game at 1-1 at the 8:56 mark. Theo Zacour and Andrew Ramsey assisted on the play.

The pace of the game slowed down for the final 45 minutes of the game. Lakehead out-shot Air Force, 10-9, in the second period but neither team scored. The two teams combined for two goals in the first two minutes of the third period, but that was all either team would get.

The Falcons took a 2-1 lead on Josh Print's goal from Matt Bader at the 1:35 mark. Bader made a pass up the boards from the neutral zone and Print skated in 2-on-1 with Eric Ehn. Print took the puck down the right side, made a move and slid the puck just inside the far post. The Thunderwolves tied the game on Jason Lange's goal from Murray Magill. Lange skated the puck right in front of Harper and then slid one through the five hole.

In overtime, each team had two shots on goal, but both goaltenders made big stops to preserve the tie.

Air Force out-shot Lakehead, 33-27, in the game. The Falcons were 1-for-10 on the power play while the Thunderwolves were 1-for-6. Harper played all 65 minutes for the Falcons and made 25 saves, including nine in the third period. Grant McCune started in goal for Lakehead, but left the game nine minutes into the first period with an injury. Chris Whitley came in and played the final 56 minutes, stopping 26 shots.

The Falcons, 1-1 overall this season, travel to Northford, Conn., for the annual Q Cup at Quinnipiac University, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 14-15. Air Force faces Bentley College on Friday at 4:05 p.m. EST. The Falcons then play either Quinnipiac or RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) in Saturday's consolation/championship game at either 4:05 or 7:05 p.m. EST.

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