Falcons hockey needs to show improvement
Air Force may be 5-0-2 in its past seven hockey games, but coach Frank Serratore knows the flaws the Falcons have shown, even in victory, will be exposed and likely exploited this weekend.
“We have a false sense of security,” Serratore said earlier this week. “We beat and tied Alabama-Huntsville and swept Sacred Heart. With all due respect, if you look at the RPI (Ratings Percentage Index), they are probably the bottom two in the nation.”
Air Force travels to preseason league pick the Rochester Institute of Technology for a Friday game and then heads to second-place Mercyhurst, winner of its first three league games and its past four, including at Cornell on Saturday.
”The degree of difficulty is going up,” he said. “It will be interesting to see the level of success we can have in a hostile building.”
Serratore cited concerns over the team’s work ethic, attitude and attention to details in the defensive end, based on what he saw from tape of this past weekend’s 2-1, and 3-2 sweep of winless Sacred Heart.
“Our compete level has to be better,” he said. “Right now, we’re not a good team.”
While getting two league wins is very much the goal, Serratore is also hoping to see progress toward being a top team by season’s end. The AHA playoff championship that determines the NCAA Tournament berth remains the No. 1 goal.
LEADERS
Air Force (5-2-2, 4-0-1 Atlantic Hockey Association) at Rochester Institute of Technology (2-3-2, 1-2-2 AHA) 5:05 p.m. Friday; at Mercyhurst (4-4, 3-0) 5:05 p.m. Saturday
Radio: 1300 AM
AFA leaders: Fr. F Cole Gunner (12 points, 10 assists); Jr. F Kyle De Laurell (10 points, six goals); Sr. D Scott Mathis (seven, four assists); Fr. F Chad Demers (six, three goals); Sr Jr. F/D Stephen Carew (five, three goals); Sr. G Stephen Caple (5-0-2), 1.81 goals against, .919 saves percentage).
RIT leaders: Sr. F Cameron Burt (six, three goals); Fr. F Brad McGowan (four, two goals); Sr. D Chris Haltigin (four, three assists); So. F Adam Mitchell (four, three assists); Fr. G Jordan Ruby (1-2, 3.36 gaa, .906 saves); So. G Josh Watson (0-1-1, 1.93 gaa; .922 saves).
Mercyhurst leaders: Sr. F Derek Elliott (five, three goals); Fr. F Nardo Nagtzaam (five, three assists); Jr. F Grant Blakely (five, three assists); So. F Daniel O’Donoghue (five, four assists); Fr. D Tyler Shiplo (five, four assists); Sr. G Max Strang (4-4, 3.12 gaa, .916 saves).
