Air Force Academy
Loyola Maryland
Air Force Falls to Fifth-Ranked Loyola
3/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
March 17, 2012
BALTIMORE, Md. - In its first conference game of the season, the Air Force lacrosse team dropped a 15-8 decision to fifth-ranked Loyola Saturday afternoon at the Ridley Athletic Complex. The Greyhounds put together a 10-0 second-half run to move to 6-0 on the season (2-0 in the ECAC), while the Falcons fell to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in the league.
Sophomore Mike Crampton (So., Kinnelon, N.J.) led Air Force's offense with three goals and an assist, while freshman Keith Dreyer (Fr., Malvern, Pa.) added a goal and three assists. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Austin Fox (Jr., Webster, N.Y.) registered a career-high 15 saves in the loss.
Air Force tallied the first goal of the game with a score from Crampton at the 11:51 mark in the opening period, while a goal from Dreyer gave the Falcons a 2-0 lead. The teams traded goals for the rest of the quarter, as Air Force took a 3-2 advantage into the second period.
Loyola tallied the first two scores of the second stanza to take their first lead of the game, but Air Force went on a 4-0 run to close the period, going into the intermission with a 7-4 margin. However, the momentum shifted after the break as the Greyhounds scored four unanswered goals in the third period to regain the lead.
In the final period, Loyola kept rolling, registering six straight scores before Air Force finally broke their scoring drought with just 1:25 remaining. The Greyhounds added another goal in the final minute to cruise to the 15-8 victory.
Loyola controlled the ball throughout the second half, outshooting Air Force 25-10. The Greyhounds also won 10-of-14 face-offs after the break and committed just three turnovers, compared to nine for the Falcons.
Mike Sawyer was the leading goal scorer for Loyola with three tallies, while Davis Butts registered a game-high four assists.
The Falcons are back in action next weekend, March 24, when they host in-state rival Denver in a 1:00 p.m. contest.
No. 5 Loyola 15, Air Force 8
Air Force - 3 4 0 1 - 8
#5 Loyola - 2 2 4 7 - 15
AF Scoring: Goals: Crampton 3, Curran 2, Dreyer, De Pol, Cassady. Assists: Dreyer 3, McKee, Crampton.
Loyola Scoring: Goals: Sawyer 3, Ratliff 2, O'Sullivan 2, Layne 2, Dalton, Ward, Dobson, Lusby, Byrnes, Fanshaw. Assists: Butts 4, Byrnes 2, Lusby 2, Acton, Ratliff.
