MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – A hat trick from Austin Schwartz powered Air Force to a 4-2 victory over RMU in the series opener on Friday night. With the loss, the Colonials drop to 10-19-4 overall and 7-15-3 in conference play.
 
FIRST PERIOD
Air Force wasted no time getting on the board, striking within the first four minutes. Schwartz capitalized on a defensive-zone turnover, slipping a backhand shot past the RMU netminder to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The visitors controlled much of the opening frame, outshooting the Colonials 10-5, while RMU held a slight edge in faceoffs, 13-9. Both teams failed to convert on their lone power-play opportunities.
 
SECOND PERIOD
RMU answered early in the second period with a goal off a faceoff play. Captain Cameron Garvey won the draw straight back to defenseman Luke van Why, whose shot ricocheted off the end boards to Michael Felsing, who buried the equalizer.
 
Air Force regained the lead just before the midway point when Brendan Gibbons found the back of the net. But RMU responded once again minutes later. Thomas Haynes dumped the puck off the boards from the corner, where freshman Patrick Johnson delivered a slick backhand pass to Cody Monds in front of the net. Monds capitalized, knotting the game at 2-2.
 
The Falcons continued to push the pace, outshooting RMU 16-10 in the period and holding a 19-11 advantage in faceoffs. RMU's penalty-kill unit stood tall, successfully fending off two Air Force power plays.
 
THIRD PERIOD
The Falcons took control early in the final frame, as Schwartz struck twice in a span of just 25 seconds to complete his hat trick and put Air Force up 4-2. RMU appeared to cut the deficit when van Why found the back of the net, but after a video review, the goal was overturned due to a major penalty against the Colonials, forcing them to finish the game shorthanded.
 
In the final minute, Mitch Deelstra nearly brought RMU within one on a breakaway, but Air Force held strong to secure the win.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Air Force outshot RMU 39-21 and edged the Colonials in faceoffs, 41-38.
• Both teams were scoreless on the power play, with RMU finishing 0-for-2 and Air Force, 0-for-6.
• Trent Wilson led the Colonials in the faceoff circle, winning 13 of his 23 draws.
• Defensively, Gabriel Lunn registered a team-high three blocked shots.
• Freshman goaltender Croix Kochendorfer made 35 saves, including eight while shorthanded.

 
UP NEXT
The Colonials close out the regular season on Saturday night at Clearview Arena, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM. The team will honor its seniors in a pregame ceremony.
 
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