WORCESTER, Mass. – Men's ice hockey scored five unanswered goals to defeat Air Force, 6-3, Friday night at the Hart Center Rink. With the win, Holy Cross moves to 15-11-4 (10-9-3 Atlantic Hockey), while Air Force falls to 14-14-1 (11-7-1 Atlantic Hockey).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Falcons got out to the early lead, scoring 3:13 into the first period.
• The lead did not last long as freshman Jack Stockfish picked up his seventh goal of the season just over two minutes later. Picking up a loose puck along the boards, junior Liam McLinskey found Stockfish streaking towards the slot. Stockfish got the Air Force defender to bite and drop for the block, which he easily pulled around to create an open lane for a wrist shot.
• Air Force netted two goals in 2:05 to take the 3-1 lead less than nine minutes into the game, forcing junior Thomas Gale out of the net, and senior Jason Grande into the game.
• With 27.4 seconds remaining in the opening frame, senior Jack Robilotti picked up his second goal of the season to cut the Air Force lead in half going into the first intermission. Stockfish drew two defenders before dropping the puck back to Robilotti at the blue line, where he unleashed a wrist shot that found its way through the Air Force netminder.
• The Falcons found themselves in penalty trouble in the second period, and after a long review, found themselves on the 3-on-5 penalty kill. Senior Jack Ricketts took advantage of the situation, sending a wrist shot to the net that the goaltender never saw coming to tie the game at three apiece.
• With 4:41 remaining in the third period, senior Tyler Ghirardosi tapped in a tick-tack-toe goal from sophomore Matt DeBoer and freshman Ty Gagno to take the 4-3 lead.
• Air Force pulled their goalie with 2:55 remaining in the period. Forcing a turnover at the defensive blue line, Ricketts found McLinskey, who dropped the puck to Ghirardosi for the empty net shot.
• Despite the Crusaders scoring, Air Force left their netminder on the bench following the next faceoff. Carrying the puck up the ice, the Falcons' defender dropped the puck to a teammate that wasn't there, giving space for senior Jake Higgins to pick up the free puck and send it into the empty net.

 
BEYOND THE BOX:

• Senior Jason Grande recorded 18 saves in relief, while Air Force's Guy Blessing made 34 saves in the loss.
• Ghirardosi's three-point game (2g-1a-3p) was the first of his career.
• The Crusaders extended their win streak to four games, and have outscored opponents 21-10 over the stretch.

 
UP NEXT:

• The two teams will face off again tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.
• The team will retire alumni Patrick Rissmillers' jersey prior to the matchup. For more information about the game, please visit goholycross.com/promotions.

 
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