Nick Sajevic’s goal in the seventh minute of the second overtime lifted Air Force to a 3-2 victory over Robert Morris Friday night in the first game of the Atlantic Hockey America conference’s best-of-three quarterfinal playoff series at Clearview Arena.
The two teams will meet again at 7 p.m. Saturday at Clearview Arena, and an Air Force victory would end the series. Should Robert Morris prevail, a third and deciding game would take place at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Air Force scored single goals in the first and second periods to build a 2-0 lead going into the final regulation period.
Will Staring netted the Falcons’ first goal on assists from Jake Peterson and Anthony Yu at the 15:29 mark of the opening period.
Air Force extended its lead to 2-0 9:52 into the second period on Mason McCormick’s unassisted goal.
But Robert Morris rallied in the third period, with Tanner KIimpke scoring a pair of goals to send the game into overtime.
Klimpke’s first goal, which came on assists from Jackson Reineke and John Babcock, came 14 minutes, 8 seconds into the final period to make it 2-1.
Klimpke then netted the tying goal a little over four minutes later, with Reineke and Michael Craig picking up assists.
The game remained deadlocked until Sajevic tallied the game-winner at the 6:40 mark of the second overtime period, with Nolan Cunningham and Chris Hedden picking up assists.
The loss left Robert Morris 13-19-3 overall on the season while Air Force improved to 18-13-4.
Both teams had five power play opportunities but neither team could capitalize. However, Air Force wound up with 13 shots during the five chances while RMU managed just four.
Photos by Mike Longo Jr.
Be First to Comment