Air Force upsets No. 8 Michigan State, 6-5; comeback bid falls just short

The aura of a Top 10 ranking and 2-0 start can officially be wiped from the ice. The afterglow from last weekend’s sizzling beginning to the season went dim with a 6-5 upset loss at Air Force, Thursday night in Colorado Springs, Colo.

No. 8-ranked Michigan State fought back from a 5-1 deficit to pull to within 5-4 on a one-timer from the left circle by Reed Lebster midway through the third period. But Air Force survived a late Michigan State power play and added an empty netter at 18:34 to close out the victory.

“Obviously not the start we were looking for,” Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale said following the loss. “It kind of felt like we chased the game. Give the guys credit. We didn’t roll over and kept pushing, but obviously a lot of stuff to work on.”

Air Force sophomore forward Holt Oliphant scored the game winner on a power play empty-net goal with 1:28 remaining in the third period, putting the Falcons up 6-4.

Sophomore forward Daniel Russell (5-9, 160, Traverse City, Mich.) stole one goal back on a scramble in front of Air Force’s net with :14 seconds left in the game. The Spartans lost the ensuing face off and the clock ran out on the comeback attempt.

“Give them credit, for sure,” Nightingale said. “They played a really good game. Part of being a winning hockey team is paying the price and they did today.”

Air Force improves to 2-1 after splitting with Lindenwood last weekend. Air Force was 12-22-2 last season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Red Savage, Nicolas Müller (from Joey Larson), Gavin O’Connell and Lebster scored for Michigan State. 

It was Savage’s third goal of the season, and Müller’s second. It was the first of O’Connell’s career. 

HOW IT WENT DOWN

Michigan State made a change in net to start the second period as freshman Luca Di Pasquo (6-0, 201, Livonia, Mich.) replaced fellow freshman netminder Trey Augustine (6-1, 179, South Lyon, Mich.), who allowed three goals on 15 shots in the first period.

“At that point, we are looking to change the momentum of the game,” Nightgale said. “Trey (Augustine) is a competitor, he’ll be fine. In the moment he knows, obviously we care about him. We care about the team. It’s not something you’re looking to do. It happens. I thought Luca (Di Pasquo) went in and did a good job.”

Following the change, junior transfer Savage (5-11, 185, Scottsdale, Ariz.) put the Spartans on the board with a goal halfway through the second period.

The two-goal deficit did not last long as Air Force responded just eleven seconds later, tallying its fourth goal of the night. Falcons’ freshman forward Brendan Gibbons skated unmarked into the Michigan State zone, beating Di Pasquo at the back post on a pass across the crease from freshman forward Owen Dubois.

Dubois opened the scoring 3:08 into the game, shortly after a turnover by sophomore defenseman Matt Basgall (5-10, 190, Lake Forest, Ill.) in the Spartan zone. Dubois beat Augustine over his right shoulder on a backhand finish.

Dubois then added a second goal less than five minutes later, pushing the Air Force lead to 2-0 with 12:11 remaining in the first period.

Air Forced scored its third goal with 0:16 left in the first period. Falcons’ senior forward Parker Brown tapped home the rebound off a shot from the top of the zone. Defenseman Sam Brennan – from Brighton, Mich. – and his partner, Will Gavin, were awarded assists on the goal

The Falcons added a fifth goal on a give-and-go finished off by junior Clayton Cosentino, pushing their lead to 5-1 with 6:56 left in the second period

Michigan State added a second goal on the power play late in the second period. Fifth-year senior Nico Muller (6-0, 188, Arisdorf, Switzerland) scored a quick shot on a cross-ice feed from Northern Michigan transfer forward Joey Larson (6-1, 200, Brighton, Mich.). That made it 5-2.

Muller – who led Michigan State in points last season – is now up to five points through three games.

The Spartans cut it to 5-3 in the dying seconds of the second period. Freshman Gavin O’Connell (6-0, 181, Plymouth, Minn.) skated into the center of the ice, burying a shot to the lower-right of the Air Force goalie.

Graduate transfer forward Reed Lebster (6-0, 188, Grand Rapids, Mich.) nabbed a fourth goal for the Spartans :10 seconds into a power play. The one-timer cut the Air Force lead to one goal with just over ten minutes remaining in the third period.

Michigan State and Air Force will face off tomorrow night in game two of the series. Puck drop in at Cadet Ice Arena is set for 9:00 p.m. ET. Spartan fans can catch the game on FloTV or listen live on Spartan Media Network.