No. 12 Falcon Lacrosse Hosts Mercer in SoCon Action
4/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
April 5, 2016 
This Week...
Air Force (9-2 overall, 3-0 SoCon) takes on the Mercer Bears (3-6 overall, 1-2 SoCon) in Southern Conference action, Saturday, April 9, at 12:00 p.m. MT at Falcon Stadium, USAFA.
National Polls...
The Falcons climbed to No. 12 in the Cascade/Maverik Media Polls over the weekend following their win over Bellarmine. The media polls' ranking marks Falcons' highest national ranking in program history. The Falcons first broke into the Cascade/Maverik poll on March 21. Air Force broke into the USILA/NIKE Division I Men's Lacrosse Coaches Poll at No. 17 on March 28 and has since moved up to No. 15.
Live Stream...
The Air Force-Mercer game will be broadcast by Falcon Vision at no cost to viewers. Fans can watch the game by going to the lacrosse schedule and clicking the watch button.
The Streak...
Air Force has won nine straight games and has improved to 9-2 overall this season. The streak marks the longest win streak in school history against Division I teams. A four-overtime win at Marist initiated the Falcon win streak. Seven of the nine wins have been by three goals or less, seven of the wins have come on the road and three of the wins came from conference matchups.
Falcons in the Southern Conference...
The Falcons are perfect in conference action; winning three SoCon matches in is as many tries. Most recently, the Falcons bested Bellarmine, 8-7, in overtime, Saturday, April 2, in Louisville, Ky. Air Force topped Furman in the SoCon season opener, 14-4, March 12, at USAFA. On March 19, the Falcons bested SoCon powerhouse, High Point, 13-4, for its second SoCon win.
The Falcons are tied with Richmond for first in conference. Both teams are 3-0 in conference play, while Air Force holds the better overall record, 9-2, to Richmond's 7-3 mark.
Series vs. Mercer...
Air Force and Mercer will meet for the sixth time in program history and for the first time as SoCon adversaries. Air Force holds the lead in the series, 5-0. The Falcons won, 14-5, the first time the teams met in 2011, in Macon, Ga. The last meeting between the teams was in April of 2015 at Mercer. The Falcons topped the Bears, 10-7.
Scouting the Bears...
Mercer is 3-6 overall and 1-2 in the SoCon on the season. The Bears' matchup with Air Force will mark the third ranked opponent that Mercer has played this season. The Bears dropped an 11-2 loss in their season opener against then-No. 16 Towson, Feb. 12, in Towson, Md. Mercer also fell to then-No. 4 Duke, 19-9, in Durham, N.C. on Feb. 29. The Bears are 1-2 in SoCon action, with a 13-2 win over VMI, marking their largest win margin of the season. Mercer is currently sixth place in the SoCon.
Mercer leads the SoCon in least turnovers per game with 13.22 turnovers per game compared to Air Force's 14.55. The Bears are second in the conference in clearing percentage (89.3%) while Air Force trails with an 86.7 clearing percentage. Mercer has the third best scoring offense in conference, averaging 8.56 goals per game.
The Bears' Chris Baxa averages 2.29 goals per game and has five man-up goals, marks good enough for second in conference in both categories. Collin Massa is second in conference with 1.57 caused turnovers per game, while goalkeeper Mike Nugent is second in conference averaging 10.44 saves per game.
SoCon Players of the Week...
Air Force's Chris Walsch and Doug Gouchoe have been named Southern Conference Men's Lacrosse Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for competition held March 22-28. The Falcons' have posted three sweeps of the conference's weekly lacrosse awards. Air Force's eighth player of the week honor marks the most in conference on the season.
Last Week...
Christopher Allen scored at 3:13 of overtime to lift the 14th-ranked Falcons to an 8-7 win over Bellarmine in a Southern Conference game, April 2, in Louisville, Ky. Air Force extended its winning streak to nine games and improved to 9-2 overall and 3-0 in the SoCon. The winning streak is the longest in school history against all-Division I teams.
Up Next...
Air Force continues conference action at home against league foe VMI, Saturday, April 16 at noon at Falcon Stadium.
This Week...
Air Force (9-2 overall, 3-0 SoCon) takes on the Mercer Bears (3-6 overall, 1-2 SoCon) in Southern Conference action, Saturday, April 9, at 12:00 p.m. MT at Falcon Stadium, USAFA.
National Polls...
The Falcons climbed to No. 12 in the Cascade/Maverik Media Polls over the weekend following their win over Bellarmine. The media polls' ranking marks Falcons' highest national ranking in program history. The Falcons first broke into the Cascade/Maverik poll on March 21. Air Force broke into the USILA/NIKE Division I Men's Lacrosse Coaches Poll at No. 17 on March 28 and has since moved up to No. 15.
Live Stream...
The Air Force-Mercer game will be broadcast by Falcon Vision at no cost to viewers. Fans can watch the game by going to the lacrosse schedule and clicking the watch button.
The Streak...
Air Force has won nine straight games and has improved to 9-2 overall this season. The streak marks the longest win streak in school history against Division I teams. A four-overtime win at Marist initiated the Falcon win streak. Seven of the nine wins have been by three goals or less, seven of the wins have come on the road and three of the wins came from conference matchups.
Falcons in the Southern Conference...
The Falcons are perfect in conference action; winning three SoCon matches in is as many tries. Most recently, the Falcons bested Bellarmine, 8-7, in overtime, Saturday, April 2, in Louisville, Ky. Air Force topped Furman in the SoCon season opener, 14-4, March 12, at USAFA. On March 19, the Falcons bested SoCon powerhouse, High Point, 13-4, for its second SoCon win.
The Falcons are tied with Richmond for first in conference. Both teams are 3-0 in conference play, while Air Force holds the better overall record, 9-2, to Richmond's 7-3 mark.
Series vs. Mercer...
Air Force and Mercer will meet for the sixth time in program history and for the first time as SoCon adversaries. Air Force holds the lead in the series, 5-0. The Falcons won, 14-5, the first time the teams met in 2011, in Macon, Ga. The last meeting between the teams was in April of 2015 at Mercer. The Falcons topped the Bears, 10-7.
Scouting the Bears...
Mercer is 3-6 overall and 1-2 in the SoCon on the season. The Bears' matchup with Air Force will mark the third ranked opponent that Mercer has played this season. The Bears dropped an 11-2 loss in their season opener against then-No. 16 Towson, Feb. 12, in Towson, Md. Mercer also fell to then-No. 4 Duke, 19-9, in Durham, N.C. on Feb. 29. The Bears are 1-2 in SoCon action, with a 13-2 win over VMI, marking their largest win margin of the season. Mercer is currently sixth place in the SoCon.
Mercer leads the SoCon in least turnovers per game with 13.22 turnovers per game compared to Air Force's 14.55. The Bears are second in the conference in clearing percentage (89.3%) while Air Force trails with an 86.7 clearing percentage. Mercer has the third best scoring offense in conference, averaging 8.56 goals per game.
The Bears' Chris Baxa averages 2.29 goals per game and has five man-up goals, marks good enough for second in conference in both categories. Collin Massa is second in conference with 1.57 caused turnovers per game, while goalkeeper Mike Nugent is second in conference averaging 10.44 saves per game.
SoCon Players of the Week...
Air Force's Chris Walsch and Doug Gouchoe have been named Southern Conference Men's Lacrosse Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for competition held March 22-28. The Falcons' have posted three sweeps of the conference's weekly lacrosse awards. Air Force's eighth player of the week honor marks the most in conference on the season.
Last Week...
Christopher Allen scored at 3:13 of overtime to lift the 14th-ranked Falcons to an 8-7 win over Bellarmine in a Southern Conference game, April 2, in Louisville, Ky. Air Force extended its winning streak to nine games and improved to 9-2 overall and 3-0 in the SoCon. The winning streak is the longest in school history against all-Division I teams.
Up Next...
Air Force continues conference action at home against league foe VMI, Saturday, April 16 at noon at Falcon Stadium.
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