Falcons Play Two in California This Weekend
9/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 22, 2009
Game #6
Air Force Falcons vs. Stanford Cardinal
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
7 p.m. at Palo Alto, Calif.
Game #7
Air Force Falcons vs. #5 California Bears
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009
2 p.m. at Berkeley, Calif.
RECORDS
Air Force: 3-1-1
Stanford: 4-1
California: 5-1
RECENT RESULTS
Air Force (3-1-1)
W vs. Army, 1-0 (ot)
Stanford (4-1)
W at Santa Clara, 2-0; W vs. San Fran., 1-0(ot)
California (5-1)
W at San Fran., 3-0; W vs. Santa Clara, 3-1
COACHES
Doug Hill (USAFA, 1983)
Air Force: 13-26-2, Third Season
Overall: Same
Bret Simon (UMass, 1980)
Stanford: 72-64-26, 9th Season
Overall: 251-133-50, 22nd Season
Kevin Grimes (SMU, 1990)
Cal: 110-62-20, 10th Season
Overall: Same
Falcons to California This Weekend
The Air Force Falcons travel to the West Coast this weekend for a pair of games in the Stanford Nike Classic. Air Force, 3-1-1 this season, will take on Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m., then the Univ. of California in Berkeley, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.
Stanford is 4-1 this year and ranked No. 9 in the Far West region, while Cal (5-1) is ranked No. 1 in the region and No. 5 in the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) national poll.
Falcons Down Army, 1-0, in OT
The Falcons defeated service-academy rival Army, 1-0 in overtime, last Saturday night in front of a capacity crown of 2,132 at Cadet Soccer Stadium. Freshman Zane Dydasco scored 2:16 into the first overtime period to give Air Force its second consecutive win over the Black Knights.
Dydasco Nets First Career Goal
For the third time this season, an Air Force player scored the game-winning goal with his first career goal. On Saturday, it was freshman Zane Dydasco that beat Army with his first career tally. Dydasco won the game just 2:16 into overtime with an eight-yard shot past Army goalie Nick Armstrong after a quick restart on a free kick. Dydasco, who is second on the team with six shots on goal, had a game-high four against the Black Knights.
Rosser Has Assist Streak Going
Senior Kevin Rosser assisted on Dydasco's game-winning goal Saturday night, giving him four helpers for the season. His four assists have come in four consecutive games.
Rosser currently leads the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in assists and assists per game (0.8), and is ranked 10th in the nation in assists per game.
Gullo Still Tops in the MPSF
Senior Jim Gullo continues to lead the MPSF in goals-against average (0.57) and saves percentage (.850). He made two saves against Army last Saturday in posting his second consecutive shutout and the fifth of his career. Gullo, who led the conference last season with 88 saves, has 17 this season while allowing just three goals in five games.
Gullo is also ranked high in the national stats as well. He is 26th in the country in goals-against average and 33rd in saves percentage.
Off to Best Start in Five Years
Air Force's 3-1-1 record is the best start since the 2004 Falcons had the same record after five games. That team pushed its record to 6-2-1 before dropping six of its last eight games to finish with an 8-10-1 record.
Go To The Corner
Air Force's impressive start can be attributed to its aggressiveness on offense this season. The Falcons have outshot their opponents 76-55 and hold an incredible 40-18 advantage in corner kicks, including a 16-3 lead during the second half. The Falcons had a season-high 14 corner kicks against Army last Saturday night, seven in each half.
The Stands Were Packed
A capacity crowd of 2,132 attended Saturday's game against Army, the most to see an Air Force men's soccer game since a Cadet Soccer Stadium-record 3,206 saw the Falcons battle Army in 2006.
Last Weekend's Result
Air Force 1, Army 0 (ot)
Sept. 19, 2009 @ USAFA, Colo.
Freshman Zane Dydasco scored the first goal of his career two minutes and 16 seconds into the first overtime period Saturday night to lift the Air Force men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over service-academy rival Army before a capacity crowd of 2,132 at Cadet Soccer Stadium. Air Force, off to its best start since the 2004 campaign, improved to 3-1-1 this season, while Army fell to 1-6.
Dydasco, from Honolulu, Hawaii, created a free kick for the Falcons early in the overtime period when he was knocked to the ground just outside the Army penalty box. With the Army defense still getting set for the kick, Air Force senior Kevin Rosser placed the ball and sent a short pass to Dydasco, who was streaking into the box and put a shot from eight yards out past Army goalkeeper Nick Armstrong. The goal set off a raucous celebration that ended in front of the packed Air Force stands. Rosser collected his fourth assist of the season and has an assist in each of his last four games.
Air Force dominated the field from the start, putting three shots on goal in the first 15 minutes, including a point-blank shot from 10 yards out by senior Steven Noller that forced Alexander to make a diving save. The Falcons outshot Army 9-4 in the first half, and had an 11-2 advantage in the second half, partially due to Army playing a man down after Bryan Connolly received a red card in the 26th minute after a hard foul against AFA's Eric Wilson. Including Dydasco's game-winner, the Falcons outshot Army 21-6 in total shots and 6-2 in shots on goal. Air Force also held a 14-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Armstrong came up big for Army on a couple of other shots as well, including a rocket by junior John Melcher in the 38th minute that Armstrong just got a piece of. Armstrong finished the game with five saves, while Air Force goalie senior Jim Gullo made two saves in posting the fifth shutout of his career.
