ARMY 2, AIR FORCE 1

Courtesy of Army Athletic Communications

WEST POINT, N.Y.  - Ken Rowe scored the game-winning goal with under two minutes to play and goalie Josh Kassel made 24 saves as the Army hockey team swept #20 Air Force with a 2-1 victory, Sunday in front of more than 2,640 fans at Tate Rink.

In front of live national television audience on ESPNU, Army secured its third straight 2-1 win - and second consecutive against Air Force - and improved to 9-12-3 overall and 9-7-2 in the Atlantic Hockey Association.

Will Ryan also scored for the Black Knights, who had a season-high 41 shots on goal. Lyle Gal and Cody Omilusik were credited with assists.

"That is living pretty dangerously winning a pair of 2-1 games," said Army head coach Brian Riley. "I think it shows the special type of players both schools have. Both teams competed as hard as they could and gave it everything that they possibly had."

Air Force dropped to 12-10-4 overall and 9-8-3 in conference games.

Army swept Air Force for the fifth time in series history and the third time at home. The last Army sweep was in 2005 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The last Army sweep at Tate Rink was in 1996 with 3-1 and 7-0 victories.

The Black Knights now have 20 points and are in fourth-place in the Atlantic Hockey standings, a point ahead of Mercyhurst. Air Force remains in a tie for second with Sacred Heart with 21 points. RIT is atop the league standings with 24 points.

"Air Force is a heck of a team," said Riley. "They are going to be right at the top of this league and hopefully what this does is give us a little confidence. We were down there for a while but we have found a way to battle back and win some close games lately."

E.J. Hradek and Barry Melrose called the game for ESPNU, marking Army's third national television appearance of the season.

Similar to Friday's game, Army fell behind 1-0 and roared back with two goals in the final period.

Following two scoreless periods, Jeff Hajner gave Air Force a 1-0 lead just 34 seconds into the third period. Derrick Burnett had the assist on the power play score.

Army tied the game less than two minutes later when Ryan netted his second goal of the season. Ryan took a nice pass from Gal in front of the net and knotted the game at 1.

With 1:47 left in the game, Rowe, off a great pass from Omilusik, knocked home the game-winning goal. It was Rowe's fifth goal of the season.

Air Force pulled its goalie with 1:40 left in the contest but Kassel secured the victory. The junior from Greensburg, Pa., made 11 saves in the first period and seven each in the second and third periods to win his eighth game of the season and second straight against Air Force.

"Josh has come up big lately," said Riley. "We have only given him six goals in the last three games and he has found a way to help us win all three. That is an awful lot to ask of your goalie. It was a great weekend for him. He was as good as any goalie that I have seen playing here."