#3 Air Force 3, #6 Army 0

USAFA, Colo.  - Sean Bertsch scored two goals as #3 Air Force beat #6 Army, Friday night at a sold-out Cadet Ice Arena in the opening game of the service academy rivals' Atlantic Hockey Association quarterfinal series.

Air Force, which held a 38-29 advantage in shots on goal, leads the best-of-three series 1-0. Game two is scheduled for Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Eastern time.

Army goalie Jay Clark made 35 saves, several of the highlight variety, but Andrew Volkening turned away 29 shots to earn the shutout.

Army is now 11-17-7 and must win two straight games to claim the series.

Air Force, which scored 14 goals in a sweep of #2 Sacred Heart two weeks ago, scored once in the first period and twice in the second and Volkening did the rest as the Falcons moved to 15-14-6 in front of a crowd of 2,470.

Volkening, who was chosen as one of the goalies in the NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge, made 12 saves in the first period, 10 in the second and seven in the final period for his 15th win this season.

Clark turned away 13 shots in the first period, 15 in the second and seven in the final 20 minutes.

"Give Air Force credit," said Army hockey head coach Brian Riley. "They made it tough for us and Volkening is good. He has won a lot of games for them. The bottom line is though if you don't put the puck in the net you can't beat anyone."

The Falcons struck first, scoring just 1:22 into the contest when Bertsch netted his fourth goal of the season.

Army got its offense on track and had several opportunities as Mike Hull, Mike Santee, Owen Meyer and Kyle Maggard all collected shots on goal in the next four minutes.

The Falcons had the first power play chance of the game when an Army player was whistled for tripping but Clark and the defense stood tall.

Army had a pair of power play chances late in the first period. Meyer had a shot on goal and was taken down for the first opportunity. Meyer and Marcel Alvarez had shots on net but Volkening kept the Falcons' advantage.

The Black Knights had a 5-on-3 advantage for 24 seconds late in the period but did not convert and trailed 1-0 after the first 20 minutes.

Army killed off an Air Force power play early in the second period as Clark made three big saves to keep it a one-goal game.

Drew Pierson went wide before Army was forced to kill off another Air Force power play. Eric Sefchik had a good chance short-handed but Volkening stopped the breakaway.

Alvarez had two more shots on goal and Army secured a power play when Danny Colvin drew a penalty but Volkening kept Army off the scoreboard.

The Falcons added to their advantage late in the second period. Bertsch scored his second of the game with four minutes left in the period and then Derrick Burnett netted his ninth of the season 96 seconds later to make it 3-0 after two periods.

"I look at the clock and think with five left in the second period we are down one and good shape," said Riley. "They they score those two quick goals and it's a different game."

Army was awarded a power play chance five minutes into the final period when Air Force was called for interference. Andy Starczewski and Sefchik had shots on goal and Mark Dube and Alvarez had their attempts blocked and as it remained 3-0 Air Force.

The Black Knights' fifth power play chance came midway through the third period. Cody Omilusik had a look in front of the net but Volkening kept his shutout.

GAME NOTES: Army's starting lineup consisted of Andy Starczewski, Eric Sefchik, Cody Omilusik, Marcel Alvarez, John Clark and Jay Clark ... Chief Warrant Office 5 Dan Jollota is serving as the team's Officer Representative ... Col. Sam Johnson, the ODIA Chief of Staff, is serving as team administrator ... The Army hockey team hotel was quite the busy place. In addition to the hockey team, the Army lacrosse team and the Air Force hockey team stayed at the same place ... The Army lacrosse team, in town playing at Air Force for the first time, took time out of its preparation to attend the hockey game ... In other Atlantic Hockey Association quarterfinal games, #1 RIT beat #9 Connecticut, 4-3 in overtime; #2 Sacred Heart beat #7 Holy Cross, 4-0 and #5 Canisius beat #4 Mercyhurst, 5-1.

AIR FORCE 3, ARMY 0
ARMY             0-0-0-0
AIR FORCE     1-2-0-3

First Period:
AF - Bertsch (Page, Artman), 1:38

Second Period:
AF - Bertsch (Page, Becker), 16:00
AF - Burnett (Kruse, Artman), 17:36

Third Period:
none.

Shots: Army 29 (12-10-7); Air Force 38 (14-17-7)
Saves: Army 35 (Clark, 60:00, 13-15-7); Air Force 29 (Volkening, 60:00, 12-10-7)
Power Plays: Army 0-5; Air Force 0-3
Penalties: Army 4-8; Air Force 6-12
Attendance: 2,470