Quinnipiac Suffers First Loss

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Following breakout seasons by both teams in 2006-07, neither the Air Force Academy nor Quinnipiac University men's hockey teams expected to sneak up on anyone this season-let alone each other. Nonetheless the Air Force offense proved too much for the visiting Bobcats, who surrendered three unanswered goals down the stretch to fall, 4-1, in the non-conference match-up. Despite outshooting the Falcons 27-26 for the game, Quinnipiac evened its record to 1-1-0 with the loss.

Quinnipiac goaltender Bud Fisher was tested early but turned aside a series of scoring chances as Air Force gained early momentum on home ice. Prior to the game, the Falcons unfurled a pair of banners from the rafters in commemoration of their 2007 Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament Championship, and their subsequent first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

Air Force eventually staked itself to a 1-0 lead 10:13 into the first period when defenseman Greg Flynn solved Bobcats goaltender Bud Fisher, albeit when his shot from the point deflected off the back of a Quinnipiac defenseman and went into the net.

Just over two minutes later, Quinnipiac answered when senior captain Jamie Bates retrieved his own shot that went wide off the boards and sent a backhanded feed from behind the net to senior center Ben Nelson sitting in front of the crease. Nelson then sent a one-timer over the shoulder of Air Force goaltender Andrew Volkening.

The goal tied the score, 1-1, at 12:21 of a first period that was evenly played overall, with the Falcons holding a 10-9 advantage in shots. Junior left wing Bryan Leitch was credited with his first assist of the season on the play.

Air Force permanently regained the lead, 2-1, at 7:41 of the middle frame when right wing Mike Phillipich took a close pass from the right circle and sent a snap shot just past the right skate of an outstretched Fisher and into the far side of the net.

Just over one minute into the final stanza Air Force extended its lead to 3-1 when left wing Brett Nylander picked the pocket of a Quinnipiac player and scored on a give-and-go with centerman Josh Schaffer. Air Force then took a three-goal advantage when Phillipich slammed home a rebound between the pads of Fisher at 10:30 of the third for his second goal of the night.

Fisher, who made several highlight-reel stops throughout the contest, registered 22 saves overall, while Volkening stopped all but one of the 27 shots he faced. Air Force accumulated 14 penalty minutes compared to 10 PIM for Quinnipiac. Both teams failed to score on the power play, as QU was 0-for-7 while AFA went 0-for-5.

The series concludes tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. ET, and the game can be heard live via audiocast on QuinnipiacBobcats.com with play-by-play analyst Bill Schweizer and color commentator Don Boyle calling the action.