Air Force beats Michigan 2-0 for first-ever NCAA hockey win

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. • Even before Air Force had secured a berth in the NCAA Tournament, the Falcons were talking about winning games on college hockey's biggest stage.

Players talked about how just making the tournament wouldn't be enough. And coach Frank Serratore talked about how heart-breaking, one-goal losses in the first round of the previous two tournaments had made his team believe it finally could "slay" - not just scare - "Goliath."

It wasn't just talk.

After two years of knocking on the door of college hockey's elite, Air Force kicked it in Friday at The Arena at Harbor Yards. The Falcons defeated nine-time national champion and top-seeded Michigan, 2-0, in an East Regional first-round game. It's a victory that ranks among the most monumental in academy athletic history.

"I'm just so happy for our kids and our program and alumni," Serratore said. "It's just awesome."

With the landmark win, Air Force advanced for the first time in its history to the second round of the tournament. Today, at 4:35 p.m., the Falcons will face third-seeded Vermont, which defeated second-seeded Yale 4-1 in Friday's other first-round game, with a berth in the Frozen Four on the line.

Had it not been for goalie Andrew Volkening, however, the Falcons likely would be heading home. While Air Force managed just 13 shots, Michigan poured 43 on Volkening - more than he had seen in any game this season.

But the 6-foot-2 junior "was flawless," Serratore said, turning away every shot he faced, helping kill off Michigan's seven power plays and recording his third consecutive shutout. Volkening has not allowed a goal since the second period against Sacred Heart on March 15, a stretch of 218 minutes, 18 seconds.

Volkening got plenty of help from the players in front of him, who kept Michigan on the perimeter and limited second chances and back-door opportunities. The Wolverines had just one odd-man rush, and defenseman Michael Mayra disrupted it.

Still, the Falcons needed Volkening to make several huge stops during one of the crucial stretches - early in the first period when the Wolverines had a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:19.

"How many times do you see it in hockey? You get a 5-on-3, you don't score, you lose," Serratore said. "Michigan needed to score there and get the lead. And we weathered the storm."

Air Force got on the board with 4:42 left in the first period when sophomore forward Derrick Burnett took a pass from junior forward Jeff Hajner and buried a wrist shot from the right circle. The Falcons added to their lead with 12:58 left in the second period when sophomore forward Jacques Lamoureux scored in transition off an assist from junior forward Matt Fairchild.

And unlike the last two NCAA tournaments, when third-period leads over Minnesota and Miami (Ohio) evaporated, Air Force would not be denied.

"I think we really came with a winning attitude," Volkening said. "We weren't going to let fear grip us going into the third period. We were just going to take care of business."