Falcon Lacrosse Announces 2017 Schedule
11/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Full Schedule in PDF 
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. -- The Air Force lacrosse team opens the 2017 season with an exhibition game against 2016 NCAA quarterfinalist Notre Dame, Saturday, Jan. 28, at noon in South Bend, Ind. The Falcons will kick off the 2017 regular season on the road against perennial powerhouse Duke, Feb. 5, in Durham, NC, followed up with yet another recurrent national powerhouse, Denver, Feb. 11, at 1:00 p.m. in Denver.
The Falcons are slated for 15 regular season games; seven of which are Southern Conference showdowns. Air Force will host five games at Falcon Stadium and play 10 games on the road. The Falcons have are slated to face off against four teams from the 2016 USILA top-20 rankings.
The Falcons will host Marist in their first home game of the season, Feb. 18, at noon at Falcon Stadium. On Feb. 25, Air Force returns to Denver to play in the Pioneer Face-Off Classic against Cleveland State and Canisius. Air Force's first game in March will be played on the fourth against Boston on the road, at noon; followed by Detroit Mercy at home at noon, on March 11.
On March 18, Air Force opens their Southern Conference slate on the road against Mercer in Macon, GA, at noon. The Falcons will follow up hosting Jacksonville their first conference home game of the season, March 25, also at noon. The Falcons will take a quick break in conference action to play against 2016 top-20 program, Marquette, in Milwaukee at 4:00 p.m. ET.
The final five matches of the season will round out the SoCon slate; Bellarmine and Richmond will come to Falcon Stadium, April 1st and April 22nd, respectively. The Falcons will take on Furman, VMI and High Point on the road, April 8th, 15th, and 29th, respectively. All of the conference matches will be played at noon local time.
Richmond will host the SoCon tournament for the second consecutive season at the conclusion of regular season play. The Falcons made a clean sweep of conference opponents last season, going on to win the SoCon championship in their inaugural year with the conference.
The Falcons are coming off of a 15-3 overall record in 2016 and their fourth NCAA tournament appearance; clinching the most successful season and longest win-streak in program history. The program defining season also marks the third consecutive winning seasons for the first time since the 1995, 96 and 97 seasons.
Air Force returns three of its top four scorers from last season. Junior attackman Chris Walsch was named the SoCon's Offensive Player of the Year as he led the Falcons with 64 points from 35 goals and 29 assists. The Hampstead, Md., native's signature performance came in a seven-point effort in a 10-9 upset at then-No. 9 Duke on March 22, capped by a game-winner in the waning seconds of overtime. Nick Hruby and Andrew Tien, who combined for 47 goals, 23 assists and 70 points, also look to assist in continuing the program's success.
