Falcons Play at Denver on Saturday
10/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 24, 2006
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Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 28 at University of Denver, 11 a.m.
Recent Results
Air Force (4-10-1, 3-4) defeated Sacramento State, 2-1 and SJSU, 1-0 Denver (10-3-2, 6-0-1) defeated SJSU, 3-0; tied Sacramento State, 1-1
Coaches
Air Force is coached by Lou Sagastume (San Francisco, 1968), who is in his 28th season with the Falcons. Sagastume has a record of 281-186-43 at the Academy and a career mark of 302-193-43 in 29 seasons. He became the 25th head coach in NCAA Division I history to win 300 games when the Falcons downed UNLV, 1-0 in overtime, on Sept. 29.
Denver is coached by Chad Ashton (North Carolina, 1990), who is in his 10th season at the school. He has a career record of 84-83-14.
Top Players
Air Force is led by freshman Josh Rhynard, who has scored a team-high four goals, with nine points this season. Junior Andy Nigro follows with seven points (2g, 3a) and junior Chris Mathews and freshman Steve Noller each has five points. Junior goalie Brian Guyette has a 1.95 GAA this season and has posted two shutouts.
Denver is led by senior Ben Mendozza, who has four goals and two assists this season, good for 10 points. Sophomore Joey Mathot follows with nine points (2g, 5a). Goalie Matt Bredehoft second in the MPSF with an impres sive 0.80 GAA.
Up Next
The Falcons wrap up the 2006 regular season with games at New Mexico on Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. and at UNLV on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.
Falcons Travel to Denver
The Air Force Falcons (4-10-1, 3-4 MPSF) continue play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation this weekend with a game at the University of Denver on Saturday, Oct. 28, beginning at 11 a.m. DU leads the MPSF with a 6-0-1 record and downed AFA, 3-0, on Oct. 7 at the Academy.
Sagastume Gets His 300th Win
With the Falcons' victory against UNLV on Sept. 29, Air Force head coach Lou Sagastume became the 25th coach in Division I history to win 300 games. Sagastume, who has a career record of 302-189-43, is 12th on the list of the Division I winningest active coaches. His record in 28 seasons at the Academy is 281-186-43.
Nigro Named MPSF Player of the Week
Air Force junior midfielder Andy Nigro was named the MPSF Brine Men's Soccer Player of the Week after leading the Falcons to a pair of home victories last weekend. Nigro, a midfielder from Colorado Springs, had a part in all three of AFA's goals as the Falcons defeated Sacramento State, 2-1, and San Jose State, 1-0. Nigro scored both goals, his first two of the season, against Sacramento State on Friday, including the game-winner in the 72nd minute. He then assisted on the only goal of the game on Sunday against San Jose State, sending a corner kick to the box that was headed in by sophomore Reid Gaiser. Nigro is currently second on the team in scoring with seven points on two goals and a team-high three assists. Nigro is the second Air Force player to win the conference award as Chris Mathews won it on Sept. 25. Earlier this week, Nigro was selected to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.
Last Weekend's Recaps
Air Force 2, Sacramento State 1
Junior Andy Nigro scored both goals for Air Force Friday night to lead the Falcon men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Sacramento State at Cadet Soccer Stadium. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for Air Force, which improved to 3-10-1 overall and 2-4 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Sacramento State fell to 5-10 overall and 2-4 in the MPSF. Sacramento State opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Jack Jones notched his third goal of the season. Jones took a pass from Zlatan Kuckovic and went far post from 15 yards against Falcon goalie Brian Guyette. Eli Millan also posted an assist. Nigro evened the score less than three minutes later after a flurry of Air Force shots against Sacramento State goalie Andrew Gangnuss. Junior Chris Mathews fired a shot from point blank range that Gangnuss saved but could not corral and Nigro was on the doorstep to send the rebound into the net. Air Force revved up the offense in the first half, attempting 16 total shots and 11 shots on goal, more than the Falcons had in any game so far this season. Gangnuss made several saves from just in front of the net and many other shots were blocked by the Hornet defense. Both defenses clamped down in the second half, and the only goal came when Nigro sent a cross that hit the far post then inadvertently bounced off Hornet Jack Jones past Gangnuss into the goal. Guyette made two huge saves in the 76th minute to hold the lead. Jones fired a rocket from 22 yards that Guyette dove for and got a hand on, then Pedro Lupercio had a chance with the rebound, but Guyette stoned him to keep the score 2-1. Sacramento State attempted 12 shots in the second half for a game total of 17, while Air Force had just five in the half and 21 for the game.
Air Force 1, San Jose State 0
Reid Gaiser scored the game's only goal in the 62nd minute Sunday to give the Air Force men's soccer team a 1-0 victory in the Falcons' final home game of the 2006 season. Five seniors played their final game at Cadet Soccer Stadium as the Falcons won their second straight game and improved to 4-10-1 overall and 3-4 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Gaiser, a sophomore from Denver, Colo., scored his first goal of the season with a header off an Andy Nigro corner kick that beat SJSU goalie Richard Mann. Gaiser was very active all day, posting a game-high four shots. The Falcon defense was also active throughout the game, allowing the Spartans just two shots on goal against senior goalie Paul Elsbernd, playing in his final home game. Elsbernd made the save of the game just two minutes after Gaiser's goal when SJSU's Edward Murillo-Jiminez fired a free kick toward the lower right part of the net, but Elsbernd dove and knocked the ball away. Mann made seven saves for San Jose State, which fell to 6-8-1 overall and 3-4 in the MPSF. The Spartans held a 19-13 advantage in total shots, but Air Force had eight shots on goal, six more than SJSU. In addition to Elsbernd, Brendan Greenaway and Nate Holloway played their final games at Cadet Soccer Stadium. Fellow seniors Duncan McNabb and Damon Wong did not dress due to injuries.
