Air Force Academy
Birmingham Southern
Falcons Rally to Defeat Birmingham-Southern, 4-3
9/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 12, 2004
Air Force scored a pair of goals in a two-minute span late in the contest to register a 4-3 comeback victory over Birmingham-Southern in the final match of the Jim `N Nick's/PUMA BSC Fall Classic Sunday afternoon at the BSC Soccer Park.
Air Force went 2-0 in the tournament and improved its season record to 3-0-1, its best start since beginning the 2001 season at 5-0. BSC fell to 2-2.
Trailing 3-2 with 10 minutes to play, Air Force's Daniel Bolin successfully converted a penalty kick, his second of the day, to tie the contest. Panther defender A.J. Maxwell was issued his second yellow card on the penalty, leaving BSC a man down. Then, just two minutes later, Marcus Sagastume crossed a ball from the endline to Scott Muir, who flicked a shot over Panther goalie Joseph Anthony for his first career goal and the game-winner.
BSC's Karim Dietz broke a 2-2 tie in the 53rd minute when his cross through the box deflected off an Air Force defender into the goal for his second tally of the day.
The Falcons struck first in the 14th minute as Bolin found Colin Eames, who fired a shot from the left wing past Anthony to the far post. BSC tied the contest in the 22nd minute as Nick Barcelona fed Jamie Holmes a ball through the box, which Holmes dribbled in and beat Falcon netminder Paul Elsbernd.
The Panthers took their first lead of the game in the 30th minute as Dietz registered his first goal of the day when he took a pass through the box from Gino Cozzolino and bent the ball into the far corner of the net from the left wing.
Air Force tied the contest shortly thereafter when Panther defender Martin Zaluk was called for a foul inside the goal area, and Bolin made good on his first penalty shot of the day.
Birmingham-Southern out-shot Air Force 18-13, but Air Force held a 9-8 advantage on shots on goal. Both Anthony and Elsbernd made four saves in goal.
Air Force returns home for a game next Sunday, Sept. 19 against Southwest Missouri State at Cadet Soccer Stadium. The game begins at 1 p.m.
