Air Force's DeLaurell scores OT goal to give Falcons win in home opener

Kyle De Laurell was at the right place at the right time.

The Air Force junior took a pass from Chad Demers on the right wing and put it past Niagara goalie Cody Campbell, a Colorado Springs native, 1:50 into overtime to give the Falcons a 3-2 win at Cadet Ice Arena on Friday night. It was De Laurell’s second goal of the game and gave Air Force (1-2, 1-0 Atlantic Hockey Association) its first win of the season.

“I was just in the right spot at the right time,” De Laurell said. “(Chad) Demers just has glue on his stick, and I don’t know how he got through all those guys. I just felt great out there, and I’m just glad we could come out with a win.”

De Laurell’s goal completed a Falcons comeback 56 minutes in the making. Air Force dug itself a 2-0 hole after allowing a pair of goals past senior Stephen Caple in the first four minutes, and Falcons coach Frank Serratore contemplated making a switch in net.

“I was close to pulling him, but then I said, ‘Heck with that. He’s a senior — sink or swim,’” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “I was saying, ‘Give me a reason to play you again Sunday or give me a reason never to play you again.’ To his credit, I’m glad I didn’t twitch, because he settled in and played a solid game.”

Caple, who started in place of injured sophomore Jason Torf, finished with 21 saves.

Both teams had several scoring chances in the third period, and the Falcons outshot the Purple Eagles (0-2-1, 0-1-1) 12-6 in the final 20 minutes of regulation. Air Force had 33 shots to Niagara’s 23 in the game and killed two Purple Eagles power plays in the third period en route to the win.

Serratore was proud of his team’s resilience and determination.

“This was a really good character-building win,” Serratore said. “I don’t care who you’re playing, when you’re down two goals — especially four minutes into the game — to be able to come back and win that game without giving up another goal in the last 56 minutes is great.”

Niagara built its lead after Isaac Kohls scored just 2:22 into the game, and Ryan Rashid made it 2-0 1:31 later. The Falcons responded with 11:41 remaining in the first on De Laurell’s first goal, which was set up by a crossing pass from freshman Cole Gunner. Sophomore George Michalke was also credited with an assist on the score.

Falcons freshman Brad McBride took a Ryan Timar pass, spun 360 degrees and slapped the puck through Campbell’s legs to knot the game at 2-2 with 12:47 remaining in the second. It was the first goal of McBride’s career and gave Air Force some much-needed momentum.