U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The No. 11 Denver Pioneers hockey team won 4-1 against the Air Force Falcons on Friday night at Cadet Ice Arena.
 
Defenseman Mike Benning scored twice for Denver (3-0-0), including the go-ahead goal in the final minute of the second period after he stickhandled around an Air Force defender, drove toward the net and tallied five-hole. Benning now has points in each of the first three games of the season and game-winners in the last two—the first two of his career.
 
Carter Savoie scored midway through the first period to give Denver a 1-0 lead, but the game was tied entering the intermission as Clayton Cosentino tallied in the final second of the period during a power play for the Falcons (1-2-0). It was the only puck that got past DU netminder Magnus Chrona, who made 19 saves and remains undefeated on the year after three starts.
 
Connor Caponi recorded his first marker of the season in the third period that extended DU's lead to 3-1 before Benning added his second tally of the night with 2:25 left in regulation, scoring on a one-timer from the left circle.
 
Denver outshot Air Force 46-20 and finished 2-for-2 on the power play.
 
The Pioneers and Falcons face-off again on Saturday night as the home-and-home series concludes at Magness Arena. Game time for that matchup is 7 p.m. MT, and DU will also be honoring the 12 members that are being inducted into its Athletics Hall of Fame as the Class of 2020 at the contest.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Mike Benning scored for the second straight game and has points in all three games this season. He now has game-winning tallies in back-to-back games (his first two of his career) and has already tied his career high for goals in a single season (three)
• Benning recorded his second career multi-goal contest, with him also doing so on March 13, 2021 vs. Omaha.
• Carter Savoie tallied his second marker of the campaign and is now on a three-game point streak. He leads the team with five points (2g/3a).
• Sean Behrens picked up his third assist in as many games this year.
• Brett Stapley extended his point streak to three contests with an assist.
• Freshman Shai Buium recorded two assists for his first career collegiate points
• Ryan Barrow recorded two assists, tying his career high for the most in a contest (Oct. 13, 2018 vs. Alabama Huntsville). The helpers were also his first points of the year.
• Forward Brett Edwards made his season debut, starting the game on a line with Jack Works and Ryan Barrow.
• Denver has recorded 40 or more shots and has scored at least four goals in all three games this year.
• DU tallied multiple power-play goals for the second time this season.

 
GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
12:40 DU (1-0) – PPG, Cole Guttman fed a cross-ice pass to Carter Savoie at the right circle and Savoie tallied his second of the season with traffic in front. Sean Behrens also recorded an assist on the play.
19:59 AFA (1-1) – PPG, Air Force evened the score as Clayton Cosentino knocked in a rebound in the crease with 0.8 seconds left in the frame.
 
2nd Period
19:02 DU (2-1) – Mike Benning dangled around an Air Force defenseman at the left circle, drove toward the net and scored on a shot that went five-hole.
 
3rd Period
15:33 DU (3-1) – Connor Caponi cleaned up a rebound in front to extend the Pioneers' lead.
17:35 DU (4-1) – PPG, Mike Benning scored on a one-timer from the left circle after taking passes from Shai Buium and Brett Stapley at the blue line.
 
TICKETS: Single-game tickets for the 2021-22 campaign are on sale now and can be purchased here.
 
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Masks are required at all indoor athletic events. For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.

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