U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Canisius scored on four of its first five shots of the game to take an early lead and never look back as it posted a 4-1 victory over league-leading Air Force in Atlantic Hockey Conference action Friday at Cadet Ice Arena.
Junior David Bennett, sophomore Dylan McLaughlin, and freshmen Casey Jerry and Jesse Pereira all scored during the first-period barrage for the Griffs (8-10-4, 7-4-3 AHC). Senior Charles Williams got the start in goal for Canisius and finished with 38 saves, an effort that included stopping all 30 Air Force shots he faced over the final two periods.
Jordan Himley scored the lone goal for the Falcons (13-6-3, 10-3-1 AHC), who saw their six-game winning streak come to an end with the defeat.
Pereira got the Griffs on the board just 3:11 into the contest, stuffing home a rebound created on a shot from junior Jeff Murray to give Canisius a 1-0 lead.
Himley brought the Falcons level at the 9:24 mark of the frame as he wired home a wrist shot from top of the slot to make it a 1-1 contest.
Bennett restored the Canisius lead a little more than a minute later when he put home a goalmouth feed from sophomore Matt McLeod for his first tally of the campaign to make it a 2-1 game.
The Griffs finished off their first-period outburst with two goals in a span of 50 seconds. Dylan McLaughlin opened the sequence with his fifth of the season at the 12:09 mark when he put home a feed from junior Ryan Schmelzer.
Jerry made it a 4-1 contest moments later, deflecting a feed from sophomore Felix Chamberland for his third of the campaign.
Air Force attempted to get back into the contest during the final 40 minutes, out-shooting Canisius, 30-6, during the second and third periods. Williams and the Griffs defense were up to the task, holding the Falcons off the scoreboard to preserve the victory.
The two teams complete their two-game series Saturday with a 7:05 (EST) opening faceoff at Cadet Ice Arena.
from GoGriffs.com via IFTTT
