Before Air Force hockey’s series against Army last week, coach Frank Serratore said his team played the 17th toughest schedule in the nation during its nonconference slate.

The Falcons have been up to the challenge since then, cruising through the first five games of their Atlantic Hockey Association schedule. With a 5-2 win at Mercyhurst on Saturday, Air Force has won four of the five conference games and has won its last three straight. The Falcons improved to 7-6 on the season, the first time the team has been over .500 since Oct. 12.

Air Force and Mercyhurst entered the second period with two goals apiece, but the Falcons scored three goals in the middle and final frames to put the Lakers away. They netted a pair of short-handed goals from sophomore defenseman Chris Hedden at 14:02 in the second period and senior defenseman Sam Brennan at the 3:41 mark in the third. Sophomore forward Holt Oliphant tacked on an empty-net goal with just over 30 seconds remaining in regulation.

Oliphant had the assist on a first-period goal from sophomore forward Mason McCormick. He found McCormick on the left side of the offensive zone for the score at 6:26.

Mercyhurst responded with back-to-back goals 37 seconds apart, first from forward Kyler Head at 8:10, then from forward Mickey Burns.

The Falcons got an equalizer on the power play goal from assistant captain Clayton Cosentino with a minute left in the first. It marked his third goal in two games. Air Force plays Mercyhurst again Sunday. Puck drop is at 2:05 p.m. The Falcons will look to improve to 5-1 in conference play.