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Defense dominated as Air Force pummels Sacred Heart for third straight win

By November 7, 2025 | updated 4 weeks ago

Air Force Falcons defenseman Chris Hedden (22) moves the puck as Denver Pioneers left wing Jake Fisher (19) defends during the first period Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, at the Cadet Ice Arena on the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Air Force hockey earned its third straight win thanks to a banner evening from its defensemen. 

The Falcons (4-4-1, 1-2)  claimed their first Atlantic Hockey America conference win and first win on the road on Friday with a 4-1 victory at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. Blueliners led the way for Air Force as defensemen scored all four goals for the Falcons. 

Following a sweep of Brown University at home last week, Falcons coach Frank Serratore was curious how his team would respond, especially considering Air Force was decimated in a road series two weeks ago.

“There were a lot of question marks, though. We played a Brown team that was just coming into their first game of their season,” Serratore told Xtrasports 1300 Jay Ritchie after the game. “We’ve had three wins, one against St. Thomas and two of them against Brown. This is our first win on the road.” 

Senior defenseman and captain Chris Hedden opened the scoring in the Falcons’ first road win with his third goal of the season. He scored on the power play at 7:03 of the first frame. 

Following the first intermission, junior defenseman Will Staring doubled Air Force’s advantage with his team-high fourth goal of the season at 3:26 of the second period. 

An undisciplined game for the Pioneers assisted the Falcons in picking up the win. In the second period, Pioneers forward Charles Tardif was called for a five-minute major penalty for contact to the head and an additional minor penalty for elbowing. While Tardif was in the box,  Sacred Heart defenseman Mikey Adamson was called for interference. The Falcons, with captain Holt Oliphant in the box also for interference, took advantage of the 4-on-3 and junior defenseman Nolan Cunningham scored Air Force’s third goal at 16:55 of the middle period. 

In total, Sacred Heart was called for seven penalties. 

“I think they were taking us lightly, I do, and by the time they realized they were in a war, the war was over,” Serratore told Ritchie.

Hedden scored his second goal of the evening with a short-handed, empty-netter at the 17:34 mark of the third period, tying the team lead for goals.  

The Pioneers denied Air Force junior goalie Dominik Wasik the second shutout of his career as Adamson scored Sacred Heart’s lone tally on the power play at 18:20. 

Wasik made 28 saves, and Air Force outshot the Pioneers 37-29. 

“He’s made timely saves,” Serratore said of Wasik. “He just seems composed, under control, he doesn’t panic. He’s a cool customer.” 

The teams will conclude the series on Saturday at 3:05 p.m.

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Hugh Johnson

Reporter

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