Fairfield, Conn. – The Sacred Heart Men's hockey team had a chance to clinch its first AHA Semifinals appearance since 2009-10 on Saturday but fell short in a double overtime. Chris Heden's shot deflected off Austin Schwartz's skate and past Ajeet Gundarah with 33 seconds left in the second extra session lifting Air Force to a 3-2 win and forcing a decisive Game 3.

The Pioneers battled all night, blocking a season-high 28 shots and riding a heroic effort from Gundarah, who made 55 saves, the third most in program history and the most in his career. The freshman netminder was at his best in overtime, stopping 22 shots before Air Force finally broke through. 

Sacred Heart carried its momentum from Game 1, dictating possession early. Reid Pabich nearly converted a rebound on his first shift before capitalizing at 16:39, marking the sixth straight game the Pioneers struck first. Aiden VanRooyan controlled a rolling puck at the blue line and fed Hunter Sansbury across the ice. Sansbury's shot was stopped, but the rebound trickled past Guy Blessing, setting up Pabich for the finish. 

Air Force pushed back in the second, tilting the ice in its favor. Heden carried the puck up the boards and dumped it into the Pioneers' zone, where Sam Jacobs won a battle behind the net and fed Andrew DeCarlo in the slot for the equalizer at 15:35. The Falcons kept pressing, outshooting Sacred Heart 13-9 in the second to set up a crucial third period. 

The Pioneers reclaimed the lead early in the third. After killing off an Air Force power play, Sacred Heart went on the attack. Felix Trudeau was tripped on a breakaway, leading to a man advantage. One second after the penalty expired, Matthew Guerra connected with John Driscoll at the point, got the puck back, and ripped a one-timer past Blessing's glove for a 2-1 lead with 16:07 to play. Saturday marked Guerra's 167th collegiate game, setting a new AHA record for games played.

Looking to extend the lead, Sacred Heart earned another power play four minutes later, but Air Force's penalty kill turned the momentum. The Falcons kept the puck in the Pioneers' zone for nearly 30 seconds before regaining possession. Mason McCormick's pass to the slot directed off the stick of Holt Oliphant right to Mitchell Digby, who's wrister banked in off the right post, tying the game with 11:08 left. 

Overtime was a battle of attrition, with both teams trading scoring chances. Sacred Heart had two power plays while Air Force had one but neither capitalized. Gundarah and Blessing combined for 31 saves in the extra frames before Heden's shot deflected in, sealing the Falcons' victory. The game was the third longest in program history.

Game 3 is set for Sunday at Martire Family Arena at 5 p.m.