FAIRFIELD, Conn. – His first save came just three seconds after the opening faceoff, his second to last stop with 3:03 left in the third period was the game's top highlight.

Freshman goalie Ajeet Gundarah, who was named AHA Goalie of the Month for December just a few hours before puck drop, stopped 27 shots and notched his second career shutout in a 3-0 win over Air Force at Martire Family Arena.

Three different Pios found the net and sophomore Jake Hewitt nailed the game-winner for first-place SHU, which has a five-game unbeaten streak heading into the series finale with the Cadets on Saturday at 5 p.m.

"It was a hard-fought battle and we were playing like dogs out there today," said Gundarah, who robbed Cadet forward Will Dawson in the low slot on a backhander that was headed for the top shelf late in the game. "Coach wanted us to elevate our level of play. I thought we did that. Sometimes you make the saves, sometimes you don't. Today I managed to make a couple of saves."

The Cadets had at least five grade-A scoring chances including some close calls on a pair of advantages in the second period seeking the equalizer. Gundarah and the SHU penalty kill came up with multiple quality stops.

That spectacular, late Gundarah stop elevated the Pios to find a pair of empty-net goals after Air Force pulled its netminder with just over three minutes to play. Graduate captain John Jaworski (6^th) and junior Reid Pabich (8^th) added late, long tosses to the cage to ice the game.

After a scoreless opening frame, Hewitt put the first significant number on the scoreboard after picking up a rebound on the edge of the crease. The goal sequence began with a pass from defenseman Mikey Adamson to forward Charles Tardif, who released a one-timer from the right circle that hit the Air Force goalie. The puck bounced around the traffic in front of the net while Hewitt, a sophomore right wing, pulled it out of the pile and tucked it into the back of the net for his fifth of the year at 4:09 of the second.

"We got a pretty stern talking to between periods, and Jaws (John Jaworski) taped and waxed up my stick right before we went back out for the period," said Hewitt. "It was a good shot by Tards (Tardif), the puck was laying there and I just jammed away. We stuck to our game and ended up with a win."
 
Note: Tomorrow's 5 p.m. game will be immediately followed by a game featuring New York City Policeman vs. Connecticut's Police Team.