Air Force Academy
Bucknell
Air Force Falls To No. 11 Bucknell
3/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
March 17, 2007
Lewisburg, Pa. - Giving up a 5-0 lead in the opening half, the Air Force lacrosse team was unable to get past 11th-ranked Bucknell, dropping the 8-3 contest Saturday afternoon at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Falcons falls to 1-4 on the season with the loss, while the Bison improved to 6-1 overall.
Shutting out the Falcons in the opening period, Bucknell increased its advantage to 5-0 with just under six minutes remaining in the second quarter. Air Force finally got on the board with time expiring in the first half, as senior Michael Weber (Wantagh, N.Y.) beat the buzzer with an assist from Will Meister (Sr., Denver, Colo.).
More than 10 minutes went by in the third period without a score for either team before Meister took the assist from junior Kevin Crumrine (Edgewater, Md.) to bring Air Force within three goals. However, a man-up goal for the Bison with just over a minute remaining in the period put Bucknell back up by four. Again, the Falcons scored late in the period, this time as Justin Kuchta (Ridgefield, Conn.) took the feed from Griffin Nevitt (So., Charlotte, N.C.) to bring the score to 6-3 going into the final quarter.
Two goals by Bucknell in the first five minutes of the final period had the Falcons trailing by five once again. However, there would be no more scoring in the game, which ended with an 8-3 Bison victory.
Air Force was outshot by Bucknell in the game, 31-22, though both teams finished with 29 ground balls. In additions, the Falcons, led by senior Kyle O'Neill (Portsmouth, R.I.), had the advantage on face-offs for the first time this season, winning 8-of-14. However, Air Force could not capitalize on any of its four man-up opportunities, while the Bison went 2-of-5 on their extra man opportunities.
The Falcons are back in action next weekend, March 24, when they travel to West Point, N.Y., to take on service-academy rival Army, currently ranked ninth in the nation, in a noon (ET) contest.
No. 11 Bucknell 8, Air Force 3
Air Force Scoring: Goals: Michael Weber, Will Meister, Justin Kuchta. Assists: Will Meister, Kevin Crumrine, Griffin Nevitt.
Bucknell Scoring: Goals: Brian Gargan 3, Michael Cooke, Perry Menzies, Nick Mark, Joe Mele, John Schlicher. Assists: Austin Winter 3, Tim Brandau, Doug Buckley.
