Air Force Academy
Sacramento St
Falcons drop conference opener to Sacramento State, 3-2
10/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 17, 2003
Patrick Nelle scored two goals and Eli Millan added the game-winner to lead Sacramento State to a 3-2 victory over Air Force in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men's soccer game Friday afternoon at Hornet Soccer Field. Air Force fell to 7-5-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference, while Sacramento State improved to 4-8-1 and 1-1 in the MPSF.
The Falcons got on the board first in the 30th minute after sophomore Colin Eames converted a 2-on-1 breakaway for his fifth goal of the campaign, striking in a pass from sophomore Daniel Wasson. Nelle then scored two goals over a four-minute span in the waning minutes of the first half. His first goal came in the 40th minute on assists from Millan and Ryan Rhoads. Nelle would strike again at the 43:50 mark, taking a Rhoads pass and sliding a shot past Air Force goalkeeper Brian Dougal.
Millan, who recorded his first career goal and assist, added to the Hornets' lead at the 48:56 mark after converting on a lead pass from Miguel Ramirez. Air Force closed to within one goal after Wasson scored his 14th goal of the season in the 72nd minute, with the assist coming from Marcus Sagastume, his team-leading 11th of the season. Wasson now has 30 points this year (14 goals, 2 assists), the most by a Falcon in one season since Dave Walick scored 45 points in 1992.
The game featured a combined 40 fouls (23 on Sacramento State) and a big turning point at the 74:49 mark when Air Force's Scott Muir received his second yellow card and was ejected from the game. A total of five yellow cards and one red card were handed out during the contest.
Dougal made four saves for the Falcons and is now 5-3-1 this season. Sacramento State's goalie Jeff Gibson earned his second victory of the season, recording three saves. Air Force outshot the Hornets, 17-12, and recorded nine more corner kicks (11-2) during the contest. Sacramento State held the advantage in shots on goal, however, at 7-5.
The Falcons continue their California road trip on Sunday, Oct. 19 when they take on San Jose State beginning at 1 p.m.
