Findlay scored four unanswered goals for a come-from-behind 4-2 win over Air Force in a College Hockey America game Friday night at Clauss Arena.
Air Force’s six-game winning streak, tied as the school’s longest since 1994, ended. The Falcons fell to 9-8 overall and 0-5 in the CHA. Findlay won its fourth game in the last six tries and improved to 7-10 overall and 3-4 in the CHA.
The Falcons played shorthanded as four key players were suspended for violating team rules. Andy Berg, Spanky Leonard, Brian Reaney and Tom Starkey were suspended for the series. The four players have combined for one-third of the team’s goals and points this season. Two other players, Brian Gornick and Ross Miller, missed the game due to an injury and illness, respectively.
With several new players in the lineup, Air Force came out strong and scored the first two goals of the game. The new line of Bryson Rintala, Mike Carrano and Ryan Smith scored the first goal of the game. Rintala, from Arvada, Colo, scored his first career goal from Buck Kozlowski and Joe Locallo at the 2:23 mark.
With 31 seconds left in the first period, Scott Zwiers scored his sixth goal of the season from Locallo and Ryan Wiggins. After Zwiers won the faceoff, he got the puck back and scored on a backhander in the slot.
The Falcon offense went south in the second period and Findlay got on the board with a power-play goal from Brian Sherry at 4:39. During a penalty-filled second period, Air Force was unable to capitalize on four power-play chances.
Findlay scored two goals in the first seven minutes of the third period and then added an empty-net goal late in the game. The Oilers outshot the Falcons, 17-7 in the period and 41-27 in the game.
Brant Somerville sent a pass across the ice to Chris Wyzgowski, who scored on the doorstep. Five minutes later, Somerville scored the game-winner from Jason Maxwell and Mark Bastl. Dave Erickson scored the empty-net goal with 36 seconds remaining.
Falcon goalie Mike Polidor stopped 38 of the 41 shots he faced. Air Force was 0-for-6 on the power play while Findlay was 1-for-3.
Air Force and Findlay conclude the two-game conference series Saturday at 5:05 p.m. MST at Findlay.
