Jan. 20, 2002

Box Score

The No. 1-ranked University of Denver hockey team scored just two goals, but sophomore Adam Berkhoel (Woordbury, Minn.) made 16 saves on 17 Falcon shots as the Pioneers posted their 11th-straight win, defeating the Air Force Academy, 2-1, Sunday (Jan. 20) at Cadet Ice Arena. The win pushed Denver's record to an NCAA-best 22-2-0 overall, while AFA fell to 10-12-0.

Denver opened the scoring in the first period as sophomore Lukas Dora (Lednice, Czech Republic) beat AFA goalie Mike Polidor on a power play slapshot from the blueline. Less than three minutes later, the Falcons evened the contest on a power play goal of their own, snapping the Pioneers' streak of 23 consecutive penalty kills. Junior Matt Weber (Binghamton, N,Y.) helped Denver regain the lead just 31 seconds later. After combining for three goals Friday against Bemidji State, the line of Weber, senior David Neale (Victoria, B.C.) and freshman Kevin Ulanski (Madison, Wis.) worked again as Neale and Ulanski assisted on the Weber marker. Denver outshot the Falcons 13-5 in the opening 20 minutes as the Pioneers took a 2-1 lead into the locker room at the first intermission.

Despite outshooting the Falcons 15-6 in the second period and controlling the action most of the stanza, Polidor played well, keeping Denver off the scoreboard. Through 40 minutes of play, Denver outshot AFA 28-11, but took just a 2-1 lead into the final period.

Despite good chances by both squads in the third period, the Pioneers held on to keep the score 2-1 and earned their 11th-consecutive victory. Berkhoel earned his 11th win of the year, improving his record to 11-1-0.

Denver (22-2-0, 15-1-0 WCHA) will return to Western Collegiate Hockey Association action at hit the road for the first time since mid-December as it travels to Minnesota for a two-game series against the Golden Gophers. The Pioneers will face off against UM Friday (Jan. 25) and Saturday (Jan. 26) at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. Both games are slated to begin at 6:05 p.m. MT.