Hockey Rescues Point With Late Surge, Air Force Takes Game One in Overtime

Friday, November 10

USAF Academy, CO

7:00 PM MT / 9:00 PM ET

Army West Point

0-7-0, 0-4-0

Air Force

5-6-0, 2-1-0

OT 1

Army West Point

Air Force

Hockey Rescues Point With Late Surge, Air Force Takes Game One in Overtime

November 10, 2023 | Hockey

Box Score

USAF ACADEMY, CO - Army West Point hockey (0-7-0, 0-4-0 AHA) rallied from three down with under eight minutes to play, before falling in overtime to the Air Force (5-6-0, 2-1-0 AHA) who found the winning goal with just 16 seconds left in the extra frame.

Evan Szary had a stellar performance in net for the Black Knights, logging a career-high 39 saves which kept Army in the game until it could find its offense. Max Itagaki had a hand in all three goals for Army, scoring once and assisting on the final two while Brent Keefer also posted a multi-point effort. Army's two Colorado natives in Keefer and John Driscoll each logged scores in the comeback effort for Army.

Air Force got the first big chance of the game after Army took a penalty less than four minutes in. The Falcons power-play was true, with Will Gavin giving the home side a 1-0 advantage just under five minutes into the contest. Gavin then took a penalty of his own, but the Black Knights were unable to capitalize. Szary made a few big stops as the period winded down, and Air Force took its 1-0 lead inton the first intermission. The Falcons outshot the Black Knights 12-6 through the opening frame.

The second period was dominated by the Falcons, who recorded 16 shots on goal in the frame compared to just three for Army. Szary kept Army in the game with save after save, before a rebound was cleaned up by Lucas Coon which gave the Falcons a 2-0 lead with 5:33 to go in the period. Army entered the third period trailing by two goals.

With the next goal being pivotal, Air Force's Luke Robinson made it a 3-0 game six minutes into the third with an even strength score. With the game seemingly put to bed, Army got back into it with just under eight minutes to play through Max Itagaki who took a centering pass from Owen Nolan, who had surged in from Army's defensive zone to set up the goal. As the clock ticked to under five minutes, the Falcons took back-to-back penalties which gave the Black Knights a golden opportunity to complete a comeback.

Army took advantage of the five-on-three, with Itagaki possessing and laying off to Brent Keefer who slammed home his team-best fourth tally of the campaign to make it 3-2. Air Force killed off the second penalty, but Army threatened with the empty net in the closing minute. It was once again Itagaki playmaking, finding John Driscoll who fired in a wristshot to complete the miraculous comeback with 45 seconds remaining in regulation.

Heading to overtime for the second time this season, Army was unable to threaten with a shot on goal as Szary was called into action twice to extend the game. With about 20 seconds to go, the Falcons found themselves with a two-on-one break following an Army turnover. Chris Hedden saw his shot saved by Szary, with the rebound ricocheting off Luke Rowe into the back of the net to give Air Force the win with just 16 seconds left in the overtime.

The Black Knights collected their first conference points of the season with the overtime loss, and will return tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. MT to conclude the series.