USAF, Colo. – Cleveland State (5-4, 2-2) dropped its second straight game 12-9 to Air Force (5-4, 4-0) on Sunday afternoon.

Air Force was responsible for the game's first two goals before Gavin Held found the back of the net off a feed from Amiri Austin to trail 2-1 with 10:27 remaining in the opening quarter. Following a Falcons goal, Parker Yearego netted an unassisted tally at the 5:27 mark as the Green and White trailed 3-2 as the game shifted to the second quarter.

The Falcons rattled off three unanswered goals to extend their advantage to 6-2 with 10:48 left in the first half. Held notched his second goal of the game off an assist from Thomas Chevalier to climb within three with 3:46 to go.

After winning the ensuing faceoff, a timeout led to an Austin goal as Cleveland State trailed 6-4 at the 2:42 mark. Air Force got a goal back with ten seconds showing to lead 7-4 at halftime.

Air Force tallied back-to-back goals in a 20-second span to lead 9-4 with 10:37 to go in third. Unassisted goals by Alex Van Voorhis and Yearego trimmed the deficit to 9-7 with 5:56 remaining. Austin then bagged a man-up goal off an assist from Van Voorhis to trail by one with 2:57 showing. AFA bagged a goal with 2:22 left to lead 10-8 with one quarter left in regulation.

The first two goals of the final frame belonged to the home team as the margin grew to 12-8 with 9:53 left in regulation. Cole Pollard had the final goal of the game on Van Voorhis second assist as the Green and White fell 12-9.

Robbie Stewart was 13-of-17 in the faceoff circle with six ground balls. Griffin Valli was second with four ground balls and a forced turnover. Connor Kernan made 14 saves in goal.

Yearego, Held, and Austin finished with two goals apiece while Van Voorhis was tops with two assists.

Cleveland State comes back home for two consecutive games, starting with Mercer on Saturday, April 6 at noon.