Air Force Academy
#8 Denver
Falcons Drop 11-8 Decision to No. 8 Denver
3/24/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
March 24, 2012
USAFA, Colo. - A second-period scoring flurry by the visiting Pioneers proved to be the difference as the Air Force lacrosse team fell to eighth-ranked Denver, 11-8, in an ECAC match-up Saturday afternoon in Falcon Stadium. The Pioneers broke a 3-3 tie midway through the second period by tallying three goals in less than 30 seconds.
Sophomore Erik Smith (Golden, Colo.) led the Falcons with two goals and an assist, while senior captain Adam Paranka (Denver, Colo.) added a season-high two scores. For the Pioneers, Chase Carraro tallied three goals and an assist, while Eric Law registered a game-high four assists.
Denver (5-3, 1-1 ECAC) was first to get on the board in the game with a score from Eric Adamson at the 9:15 mark in the opening period, while the Falcons tied the contest with an unassisted score from Paranka. Air Force grabbed its first lead of the game with a goal by Tommy McKee (So., Holt, Mich.) with just under three minutes remaining in the quarter, but the Pioneers were able to find the back of the net once more, tying the game at 2-2 after one period.
The Pioneers regained their advantage in the first five minutes of the second quarter, but Mike Crampton (So., Kinnelon, N.J.) found the back of the net for the Falcons to knot the score with 9:24 on the clock. However, Denver followed with its quick three-goal spurt to take control. While Air Force scored once more in the period with a goal from Smith, the Pioneers closed out the half with two more goals to enter the locker room with an 8-4 advantage.
Twice in the third period, Air Force (3-4, 0-2) managed to cut the margin to two goals, but both times, Denver had a response. The Pioneers pushed their advantage back to four after registering back-to-back scores in the final two minutes of the third quarter.
In the final stanza, the Falcons were able to hold Denver scoreless, but only got on the board once, as Smith scored on an assist from Kyle Cassady (So., Upper Arlington, Ohio) with just over two minutes to play.
Stats across the board were fairly even between the two teams throughout the game, with Air Force holding a slight edge on face-offs, winning 13-of-24 draws. Sophomore Bryan Price (Denver, Colo.) led the Falcons at the X, winning 11-of-19 face-offs. In addition, the Falcons' man-down unit was stellar, holding the Pioneers scoreless on four extra-man opportunities.
The Falcons return to action on Tuesday, March 27, when they visit Jacksonville in a 7:00 p.m. (ET) contest at The Bolles School.
No. 8 Denver 11, Air Force 8
#8 Denver - 2 6 3 0 - 11
Air Force - 2 2 3 1 - 8
Denver Scoring: Goals: Carraro 3, Flint 3, Berg 2, Noble 2, Adamson, Matthews. Assists: Law 4, Carraro, Flint, Demopoulos, Matthews.
AF Scoring: Goals: Paranka 2, Smith 2, McKee, Crampton, Cassady, Harrison. Assists: Dreyer 2, Walker, Smith, Cassady.
