Backboned by a 23-save performance by junior goaltender Marc Kielkucki and flawless effort from a line-up that included 15 freshmen and sophomores, the Air Force Academy Cadets upset the Yale University Bulldogs, 2-0, to advance to the championship game of the Festival of Lights Tournament.

It was the first win for Air Force against a current member of the ECAC since the 1992-93 when they defeated Colgate, 5-3.

"It's a huge step for our program and it will get teams to really take us seriously," said Air Force head coach Frank Serratore. "I told the guys after the game that I couldn^Òt really say much because I was going to tear up. This is what I dreamed of when I came here [four years ago]."

The key to the Falcons win was a great commitment to team defense and a penalty kill that stopped all eight Yale power plays.

"We were totally beaten out there," said Yale coach Tim Taylor. "I give Air Force all the credit in the world. They played harder, with more determination and a greater sense of purpose than we did for 60 minutes.

"When a game is reduced to turf warfare, where you have to fight for space, or a rebound or a chip in goal, it comes down to the team that has the most heart and desire and determination. And tonight that was Air Force."

For Falcons netminder Kielkucki, it was the sixth shutout of his career and his first of the season, but easily the biggest in his 144 games.

"When you get a shutout against a big team such as Yale it's just huge," Kielkucki said. ^ÓTo get any shutout you have to get a couple of lucky bounces here and there. And I had bounces going my way tonight."

Air Force opened the scoring early in the first period when Scott Zweirs perfectly finished off a 3-on-1. Zweirs skated up ice with linemate Brendan Connelly and defenseman Brian Reaney. As the Bulldogs defender converged, the puck carrier Connelly dished to Zweirs who beat the goaltender Lombard over the left shoulder.

"Connelly made a great pass," Zweirs said. "He feathered it right through the defenseman's stick and I shot it upper left [corner]."

The Yale offense that averaged 28 shots per game entering this afternoon's contest was held to a mere two shots on goal in the first period. The Falcons offense wasn't much better in the frame, managing only six shots, with only two of those coming from in close.

In the second period, the flow changed, as Yale outshot Air Force, 13-1, in the frame. But even controlling the play for much of the period, the Bulldogs mustered few shots that tested Kielkucki. The majority of Yale's shots came on their three power plays in the period and all but three of the 13 shots were from outside the grade-A scoring area.

"I didn't sense us panicking," said Serratore. "I thought maybe as a young team we'd come apart at the seams, but we kept chipping the puck deep and I thought we played like warriors. I couldn't be more proud of this team."

The third period was much of the same for Yale as they reeled of shot after shot without beating Kielkucki. The best of the opportunities came six minutes into the third when defenseman James Chyz blasted a shot from the point. Kielkucki had little problem with the save on that shot but the rebound came right to Lee Jelenic. Kielkucki sprawled back into position to stuff Jelenic and preserve the lead.

At 9:33 of the third Air Force got one of its two scoring opportunities of the period and made the most of it. Junior Scott Bradley was allowed to skate deep into the zone along the left side by the Yale defense. Once he got position behind the net he fed to the slot and found Nels Grafstrom who beat Lombard inside the right post for the 2-0 lead.

With the win, Air Force advances to the championship game to face the winner of the nightcap between UMass-Lowell and UConn. Serratore didn't seem too concerned about getting his team up for a second consecutive big game.

"Our guys are under a lot of pressure [at the Air Force Academy]," Serratore said. "We're on a little break [from that pressure] now and we have focused guys and quality guys. They'll relax a bit tonight, but after the pre-game meal tomorrow, that's when they'll be totally focused."

The win improves Air Force's record to 7-5-1, while Yale drops to 3-4-2. Saturday's championship game, featuring the Falcons and the UMass-Lowell River Hawks, will take place at 7:00 P.M. ET, while the Bulldogs will face off at 4:00 P.M. ET in the consolation game against UConn.