[box score] The Wayne State University men's hockey team advanced to the semifinal round of the 2003 College Hockey America tournament in Kearney, Nebraska, with a 4-2 victory over the United States Air Force Academy in the first quarterfinal contest.

After a scoreless first period which the Warriors held an 11-7 advantage in shots on goal, WSU grabbed a 1-0 lead just 51 seconds into the middle stanza when Tyler Kindle's (Portage, Mich./Bozeman Icedogs) blueline shot was deflected by Dustin Kingston (Spencerville, Ont./Brockville Braves) to Jason Durbin (Trenton, Mich./Danville Wings), who netted his 11th of the campaign.

The Warriors increased their lead to 2-0 at the 4:30 mark when Keith Stanich's (Bethel Park, Pa./Waterloo Black Hawks) power-play shot was tipped by freshman Derek MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont./Soo Thunderbirds) into the net.

The Falcons cut the deficit to one goal with 4:46 remaining in the second period as Andy Berg scored his 22nd of the season of an assist from Scott Zwiers.

Just before the middle stanza ended, WSU regained its two-goal advantage as Kingston converted a tic-tac-toe passing play on the power play with Kindle and Stanich earning assists.

Derek MacKay scored an even-strength marker 21 seconds into the third period for a 4-1 Warrior lead. MacKay's 16th of the campaign was assisted by Durbin.

Air Force scored a power-play goal with 64 seconds remaining in the third period and pulled goaltender David Goodley for the final 58 seconds but not could pull within a goal. Justin Hamilton's goal was assisted by Zwiers and Spanky Leonard.

WSU goaltender David Guerrera (St. Leonard, Que./Estevan Bruins) made 27 saves including 10 in each of the final two periods, while Goodley was credited with 25 stops. Wayne State scored two power-play goals in six chances, while limiting the Falcons to one man-advantage marker in eight opportunities.

Wayne State will face Niagara, the No. 2 seed, at 4:05 pm EST on Saturday, March 15.