COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Holy Cross men's hockey team dropped a 7-2 decision to Air Force at the Cadet Arena. Six different Crusaders picked up a point in the game and skated to a 2-2 tie through 40 minutes. Five third period goals for the Falcons proved to be the deciding factor of the game.
 
The Crusaders opened the scoring in the first period when Alex Peterson netted his fourth of the season on a solo forechecking effort. Despite the Falcons evening the score at the midway point of the period, 1-1, the Crusaders found their grove on the power play. With nearly five minutes left in the frame, Pete Kessel found his third power play goal of the season and gave the Crusaders a 2-1 lead to close the period.
 
Air Force tied things up midway through the second period. The Crusaders outshot the Falcons, 6-5, in the middle frame.
 
The Falcons ran away with the game in the third period, as they scored five goals to take a 7-2 lead.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
1-0 HC | 1^st – 5:23 EV: Nick Hale cleared the puck from the defensive zone to send Alex Peterson in Falcon territory unaccompanied. Peterson challenged Air Force's netminder Alex Schilling and was then able to collect the loose puck and backhand it into the net.
1-1 AF | 1^st – 9:57 EV: After a Falcon's offensive zone faceoff, Andrew Kruse took a point shot that bounced around through traffic and just crossed over the goal line.
2-1 HC| 1^st – 14:17 PP: The Crusaders worked the puck around in the offensive zone as Dalton Skelly moved the puck from the center point to Mike Higgins at the top of the faceoff circle. Higgins sent a puck toward the front of the net, where Pete Kessel found a back-door goal.  
2-2 AF | 2^nd – 11:31 EV: Just as time expired on a Crusader penalty, Zach Mirages let go a center point slap shot that made its way through traffic.
3-2 AF | 3^rd – 1:33  EV: In an individual effort, Matt Pulver scored on his own rebound from the slot.
4-2 AF | 3^rd – 3:28 PP: Brandon Koch scored from the point on the power play.
5-2 AF | 3^rd – 7:31 EV: Marshall Bowery picked up a rebound on the back door after a three-on-two for the Falcons.
6-2 AF | 3^rd – 12:43 EV: Jake Levin scored.
7-2 AF | 3^rd – 15:55 EV: Brady Tomlak scored on a mini breakaway.
 
NOTES & NUMBERS

• Kessel has scored three power play goals in his last three games, which also leads the team.
• Air Force outshot Holy Cross, 25-20.
• Three rookies tallied points on the night: Peterson, Hale, and Higgins.
• Matt Radomsky played 47:31 minutes and made 15 saves.
• Beau Collins made three saves in 12:29 minutes of action.

 
UP NEXT
The Crusaders will play their final game of the first half of the season with a 7:05 p.m. game at Air Force to finish the weekend.