The Denver Pioneers re-entered the win column on Saturday afternoon by defeating the Air Force Falcons, 11-8. The victory moves the Pioneers to 5-3 overall with a 1-1 record in the ECAC. Air Force is 3-4 with an 0-2 ECAC record.
The Pioneers opened the scoring with Eric Adamson's second goal of the season with 9:15 left to play in the first quarter. The quarter was played tightly, as it ended in a 2-2 tie. But the second quarter belonged to the Pioneers with six more goals scored, entering halftime with an 8-4 lead. In the first half, Denver had goals by Adamson, Cameron Flint, Wes Berg (twice), Jeremy Noble, Chase Carraro (twice) and Mark Matthews.
In the second half of the game, Chase Carraro completed the hat trick by scoring with 1:44 left in the third frame. Noble and Flint scored their second goals of the game earlier in the period. Air Force put three on the board in the third and one late one in the fourth quarter to make it a three-goal game.
Ryan LaPlante made his second start in relief of the injured Jamie Faus (who will miss the remainder of the season with a ruptured Achilles) and allowed all eight goals. He made 12 saves in the game.
The Pioneers host the Hobart Statesmen next Saturday.
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