Air Force scored two third-period goals for a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Wayne State in a key College Hockey America game Saturday night in front of a season-high crowd of 1,880 at the Academy’s Cadet Ice Arena.
Wayne State, 14-11-2 overall and 6-6-2 in the CHA, opened the scoring in the second period as Nick Shrader scored a power play goal at the 8:54 mark. Shrader re-directed a shot by Jason Durbin to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
The score remained 1-0 through the middle of the third period as both teams’ special teams were on display. The two teams combined for 14 penalties in the first two periods.
Air Force, 13-10-3 overall and 5-5-3 in the CHA, got on the board at the 8:59 mark of the third period. AFA’s leading scorer, Andy Berg, was called for a 10-minute misconduct penalty and one minute later Brian Gornick scored a power-play goal to tie the game at 1-1. As Wayne State tried to clear the puck, Scott Bradley trapped the puck on the boards and slid it to Jace Anders on the point. Anders fired a slap shot that was tipped in by Gornick for his 12th goal of the season.
Thirty-nine seconds later, Kyle Fransdal netted the game-winner. Fransdal skated the puck into the zone and fired a high slap shot that deflected off of WSU goalie David Guerrera’s glove and went in the net.
The victory moved Air Force into third place in the CHA, one point ahead of Wayne State. The Falcons earned three of the four points in the series.
Both goalies were outstanding in the series. AFA’s Marc Kielkucki made 32 saves in the game and 58 in the series. He allowed just two goals in the two games. WSU’s Guerrera made 30 saves in the game and 61 in the series. He gave up just three goals in the series.
