Air Force Academy
Quinnipiac
Air Force Defeats Quinnipiac in GWLL Opener
3/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
March 14, 2009
HAMDEN, Conn. - Aided by a 6-0 second-half run, the Air Force lacrosse team picked up a 14-8 victory over Quinnipiac Saturday afternoon in the Great Western Lacrosse League opener for both teams. With the victory, the Falcons move to 3-3 on the season, 1-0 in the GWLL, while the Bobcats fall to 1-4 overall, 0-1 in the conference.
The first half was evenly contested, with neither team leading by more than a single goal. Senior captain Griffin Nevitt (Charlotte, N.C.) was the first to get on the scoreboard with a tally at the 12:51 mark in the opening period, while Quinnipiac closed out the scoring in the first half to bring the score at intermission to 5-5.
The tide turned in the second half, with the Falcons scoring three unanswered goals in the third period. K.J. Landgraf (Sr., Ellicott City, Md.) opened the scoring with a man-up goal at the 8:39 mark, while sophomore Tristan Newkirk (Albany, N.Y.) added his first goal of the year four minutes later, also on a power-play opportunity. Defender Bryan Gilbreath (So., Bainbridge Island, Wash.) picked up the loose ball on the ensuing face-off to set up his first goal of the game, his sixth of the season, giving the Falcons an 8-5 cushion.
Air Force's run continued in the final period, as freshman defender Dayton Gilbreath (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) scored his first career goal, followed by back-to-back tallies from Ridge Flick (Jr., Plano, Texas) and Vinny Sandtorv (So., Centereach, N.Y.). The Bobcats were finally able to stop the Falcons' scoring streak with 9:44 remaining, with a man-up goal from Mike Gast, followed by another score two and a half minutes later.
However, the Falcons rattled off three-straight scores, including a pair from Landgraf to take a 14-7 advantage, their largest lead of the game. Although Quinnipiac closed out the contest with a goal in the final minute of play, it was not enough to get past Air Force, which defeated the Bobcats for the third time in the past four seasons.
"It was a sloppy game and we have a lot to work on, but the guys didn't quit," said head coach Eric Seremet. "We played hard the whole game and did what it took to bring home the win."
Landgraf and Flick led the Falcons with five points each, with Landgraf posting a team-high four goals, while Flick registered a three goals and two assists. Also scoring multiple points were Bryan Gilbreath with two goals and Nevitt and Sandtorv with a goal and an assist each.
Sophomore Zack Carroll (Freehold Township, N.J.) was impressive from the face-off X, winning 18-of-25 in the game, including 13-of-15 in the first three periods. Meanwhile, senior Dan Gnazzo (Eden Prairie, Minn.) made the switch from the long-stick midfield position to the starter in goal, recording seven saves in over 57 minutes of action.
The Falcons are back in action next weekend, March 21, when they travel to Dallas, Texas, to face Bucknell in the Patriot Cup, sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project.
Air Force 14, Quinnipiac 8
Air Force 3 2 3 6 14
Quinnipiac 4 1 0 3 8
AF Scoring: Goals: K.J. Landgraf 4, Ridge Flick 3, Bryan Gilbreath 2, Griffin Nevitt, Jeff Pecora, Tristan Newkirk, Dayton Gilbreath, Vinny Sandtorv. Assists: Ridge Flick 2, Eric Evans, Colin Lockhart, K.J. Landgraf, Vinny Sandtorv, Griffin Nevitt.
Quinnipiac Scoring: Goals: Jack Oppenheimer 2, Garrett Kerr, Alex DeAlmeida, Mitch Cooper, Kevin Kelly, Mike Gast, Gary Messina. Assists: Kevin Kelly 2, Gary Messina 2, Garrett Kerr.
