Air Force overcomes four-goal hole for OT tie

Just under 12 minutes into the hockey game, Air Force was flogged. Down four goals on the road to Atlantic Hockey-leading Rochester Institute of Technology, Frank Serratore already had pulled his team’s starting goalie and the Falcons were a mad, frustrated group.

It is with those things in mind that Saturday night’s 5-5 overtime tie looks pretty good.

“We can salvage something with this,’’ Serratore said. “We’ve got some things we need to polish up, but this team in incredibly resilient.’’

The Falcons (11-6-6, 9-6-6) might never feel this good about a one-point weekend. Air Force lost 1-0 in overtime on Friday night.

Pine Creek’s Kyle DeLaurell finished with a goal and two assists, including the goal that tied it at 5-all with 6:15 left in the third period. Jacques Lamoureux also had a goal and two assists, including the goal that made it 4-4 midway through the third. Scott Mathis, Adam McKenzie and John Kruse also scored for the Falcons.

Stephen Caple, who replaced Jason Torf with the score 3-0 in the first period, made 18 saves.

Air Force scored three power-play goals and finished with a 32-27 edge in shots, including a 14-6 edge in the third period.

“We’ve got to learn our lesson from this and move forward,’’ Serratore said.