Force in the Field

This story first appeared on the New England Hockey Journal website.  To view Matthew Ondesko's story click here.

By Matthew Ondesko

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Air Force ended the Cinderella story of Mercyhurst, as the Falcons' Josh Frider scored his second goal of the game just 56 seconds into the second overtime to give Air

Force a 5-4 win over the Lakers in the Atlantic Hockey Association championship game Sunday night at Blue Cross Arena.  

With the win, the Falcons will be making a return trip to the NCAA tournament - and they'll find out their location and opponent during the selection show next Sunday.  

"I had an overtime goal before," said Frider, "but not a tournament-winner like this. I just took a swing at the rebound and somehow it went over his shoulder."  

This game had everything from great goaltending, to quick goals to missed opportunities.  

With just one second remaining in the first period, Air Force was able to get on the board first, as junior Ben Olson scored on the power play. After the initial shot was blocked into the corner, Olson grabbed the rebound and, with time running out, threw the puck on net - which somehow eluded goaltender Matt Lundin.  
The Falcons took a 2-0 with just more than six minutes to play in the second, as Frank Schiavone's wrist shot from the point somehow found its way on net and past Lundin, who was screened on the play.  

The Lakers would finally made it a game later in the period. After Air Force goaltender Andrew Volkening made what seemed like 10 saves, Mercyhurt's Matt Pierce, camped in front of the Air Force goal, jammed home the rebound on the power play.  

The Lakers added another power-play goal just a minute later, as Steve Cameron's wrist shot from the left corner beat Volkening over the left shoulder.  

"This team is just made up of guys who want to win," said Mercyhurst forward Mike Gurtler. "When we were down (2-0) we knew that everybody would come together and that's how we tied it up."  

Mercyhurst kept the momentum going when it took its first lead of the night early in the third. Nick Vandenbeld scored on the short side - his second goal of the season and first since earlier in the year against Michigan State.  

That's when the game got crazy. From there the two teams combined for three goals in a 1:20 span of the period.  

Air Force tied the game at 3 when Josh Schaffer stuffed home a rebound past Lundin. The tie didn't last long, as Mercyhurst regained the lead just 19 seconds later on a goal by Brett Robinson.  

Air Force wouldn't be out done, though, as the Falcons tied the game just 21 seconds later. Josh Frider pounced on a rebound and jammed it home past Lundin.  

Mercyhurst's Ben Cottreau almost ended the game with five seconds remaining, but Volkening just got enough of the shot with his pad to slide the puck to the corner.  

"I'm very proud of how our hockey team played (tonight)," said Mercyhurst head coach Rick Gotkin. "We over came three games in three nights and a double overtime."  

After a scoreless first overtime, the Falcons didn't waste any time in the second. Frider's goal trickled through Lundin and set off a huge celebration by the Falcons while Mercyhurst's magic run in the tournament came to an end.  

"It was an unbelievable college hockey game," said Air Force coach Frank Serratore. "I can't believe Mercyhurst had the energy that they did - it was amazing. They almost pulled off the improbable. I want to give our team credit because we were tested."  

Notes  

Volkening's 21 Division 1 wins are the most in school history. They are the most wins (all games) since Al Morrision won 23 games in 1974-75. AFA was 24-5-1 that season - which included games from Division 1, 2 and 3 schools.

In their only other appearance in the NCAA tournament, the Falcons built a 3-1 lead early in third period before losing, 4-3, to the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the West Regional.

Air force (3) and Mercyhurst (5) were the lowest seeds ever to play in the Atlantic Hockey championship game. Last year, Army was the second seed, while the Falcons came in as the fourth.

Air Force is the first team in the history of the tournament to play in two-straight AHA finals. ...   Air Force's 5-0 shutout win in the semifinals against RIT was the first shutout in Atlantic Hockey tournament play.

The All-Tournament was Chris Risi (Mercyhurst), Matt Pierce (Mercyhurst), Brett Olson (Air Force), Jeff Terminesi (Mercyhurst), Matt Charbonneau (Air Force), and Andrew Volkening (Air Force). MVP was Brett Olson (Air Force).