Air Force Academy
Sacramento State
Falcons Rally to Beat Sacramento State, 2-1
10/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 17, 2008
Junior Kevin Rosser scored the game-winning goal and assisted on the other as the Air Force men's soccer team rallied for a 2-1 victory over Sacramento State Friday night at Hornet Soccer Field. With the victory, Air Force improved to 4-8 overall and 2-2 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play, while the Hornets fell to 6-5-2 overall and 1-3 in the MPSF.
Sacramento State provided the game's first goal in the 19th minute, as Adam Bettencourt scored off of a free kick from Omar Martinez that was punched out by Falcon goalie Jim Gullo onto Bettencourt's right foot. The Hornets took the 1-0 lead into halftime, after outshooting the Falcons 11-6 during the first 45 minutes of play.
The second half saw the amount of chances pick up for both teams in a game that was quickly moving from one end of the field to another. In the 53rd minute, Rosser centered a ball to Ben Chavez, who connected from 10 yards out that hit the top left corner of the net for his first career goal. Rosser then produced the game-winner with his first goal of the season in the 71st minute. He took a pass from freshman Garrett Getschow and blasted a shot of his own off the top left corner of the goal support from 18 yards out past Hornet goalie Bryan Oliver.
For the match, the Hornets outshot the Falcons 24-17, with Sacramento State posting nine shots on frame to the Falcons seven. Sacramento State also held a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks for the match, but did not produce a goal off of one.
Sophomore Ernesto Carranza and junior Zach Tuss led the Hornets with five shots apiece, while Rosser led the Falcons with five shots of his own. Gullo tied his career-high with eight saves for the second straight game, while Oliver posted four saves for Sacramento State. The Hornets also picked up a team save in the fifth minute as Alex DeTorres kept a goal off the board on a sliding stop of a shot off the foot of Falcon junior Josh Rhynard.
The Falcons return to action this Sunday, Oct. 19 as they take on San Jose State at 1 p.m. in San Jose, Calif.
