Falcons travel to Denver for Frontier Airlines Faceoff Classic
2/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
This Week
Air Force will travel up I-25 for the 2015 Frontier Airlines Faceoff Classic, Feb. 21-22, at the University of Denver. Air Force will face No. 1 Denver in the first game, Feb. 21, at 1:30 pm. The Falcons will then meet Canisius, Feb. 22, at 11 a.m. Furman is the fourth team in the Classic.
About the Game
The Air Force-Denver game will be video streamed and live stats will be available at DenverPioneers.com. Live stats for the Air Force-Canisius game will be available at DenverPioneers.com.
Tough Schedule
In the first three weeks of the season, Air Force will face two of the top three teams in the nation in the USILA preseason poll. Air Force fell to No. 3 Duke, Feb. 8, 13-7, in Durham, N.C. This coming weekend, Air Force will face No. 1 Denver, Feb. 21, in Denver.
The Coach
Head coach Eric Seremet (UNC, 1992) is in his seventh season as the Falcons' head coach. The 2014 USILA Division I Coach of the Year, Seremet led the Falcons to its best season ever. The 2014 Falcons compiled an 11-6 overall record and secured their highest win total since 1988. The Falcons were able to clinch a share of the regular season conference title before going on to win the ECAC Tournament title, earning their first NCAA bid since 1988. Air Force went on to host Richmond in the NCAA play-in game, capturing its first NCAA tournament win in program history. In his seventh season with the Falcons, Seremet had an Academy and career record of 38-49. Seremet came to the Academy in 2002 and spent seven seasons as an assistant coach under Fred Acee.
Award-winning Staff
Head coach Eric Seremet and assistant coach Bill Wilson were honored at the Nike/IMCLA annual awards luncheon, Dec. 13, at the Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore. Seremet was named the USILA Division I coach of the year while Bill Wilson was named the USILA Division I Outstanding Assistant Coach. Together, Seremet and Wilson helped lead Air Force to its most successful season in school history.
Scouting the Denver Pioneers
The Pioneers are ranked No. 1 in nation and are 1-0 this season. DU opened the season with a 17-13 win over No. 3 Duke. Connor Cannizzaro leads the team with eight points, having three goals and five assists vs. Duke. Jack Bobzien had a team-high six goals vs. the Blue Devils. Ryan LaPlante stopped nine of 22 shots against Duke. The Pioneers have played in the NCAA Tournament five straight years, winning four conference championships and reaching the national semifinals three of the last four years. Last season, DU fell to Duke in the NCAA semifinals.
Last Season vs. Pioneers
Air Force opened the 2014 season against Denver, and fell to the No. 4 Pioneers, 14-8, at Falcon Stadium. Air Force had a 4-2 lead in the second quarter, but the Denver took an 8-5 lead into the half. Denver outscored Air Force, 5-0, in the third quarter and held Air Force off in the fourth. Current senior Keith Dreyer had a goal and two assists.
Scouting the Canisius Golden Griffs
Canisius is 0-1 overall this season, after losing to Boston University, 13-9, last weekend in Boston, Mass. Tim Edwards leads the team with four points (1-3-4). Alex Govenettio started in goal for the Griffs and made 15 saves while allowing 13 goals. Last season, Canisius was 7-8 overall and 3-3 in the MAAC. The Griffs fell to eventual MAAC Tournament champion, Siena in the tournament semifinals.
Last Season vs. Griffs
Air Force and Canisius also met last season in the Frontier Airlines Faceoff Classic in Denver last season. Canisius beat Air Force, 7-6. Air Force scored the first goal of the game, but Canisius quickly tied the game and the Falcons never regained the lead in a tight contest. Canisius led 5-3 at the half, but goals by Tommy McKee and Erik Smith tied the game at 5-5 in the third period. Canisius scored the next two goals and held on for a 7-6 win
