Air Force Academy
Mercer
Falcon Lacrosse Cruises by Mercer in Conference Opener
3/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Box Score in PDF 
Macon, Ga. - Chris Walsch registered four goals and an assist to lead Air Force to a 14-6 win in the conference opener against Mercer, Saturday afternoon, in Macon, Ga. The Falcons, now 5-3 with a 1-0 mark in conference, remain unbeaten by Mercer in the seven-game series.
Air Force outscored Mercer five-to-one in the first period led by Walsch and Grant Gould who netted two goals apiece. Cameron Carter added an assist to his count with a feed to Jack Flynn for his first goal of the game. Walsch was credited with the assist in Gould's second goal in an extra-man opportunity. Walsch, who leads Air Force with nine assists this season, extended his point-streak to 32-games dating back to March of 2015. Shawn Carter netted the Bears' only goal of the period.
Air Force continued the barrage into the second period, outscoring the Bears four-to-one. Sophomore attacker Carter led the Falcons' advance with an unassisted goal at the 13:58 mark. Matthew Schwartz followed up with his seventh goal of the season in an unassisted attack. Nick Hruby added another goal to the scoresheet with an unassisted goal two minutes later. Hruby's goal extended his goal-streak to 21-games; the second-longest goal-streak in the nation. Junior defender Sean LaVine capitalized on a scoring opportunity with 3:25 remaining in the half for his first career goal. Will McCarthy was the only Bear to tally a goal in the period.
At the half, Air Force took four-times more shots than Mercer (30-7), 16 of which were on the Bears' cage. The Falcons picked up 13 ground balls to Mercer's nine, while the Bears won seven-of-thirteen face-offs.
The Falcons continued the scoring clinic into the second half, outscoring the Bears, three-to-one in the third period. Walsch registered his third goal at the 11:20 mark for his fourth hat trick of the season. Mercer's Kevin Yoggy responded with a goal from Lucas Wittenberg's assist. Walsch answered with his fourth goal from Schwartz's feed at 2:51 remaining in the third. The goal marked a single-game high for the Finksburg, Maryland, native. Air Force closed the third period with a comfortable 12-3 lead.
Hruby made the first strike in the fourth period, lifting the Falcons to their largest lead of the game, 13-3. The goal marked Hruby's 19th of the season. Hruby and Walsh lead Air Force with 19 goals apiece. Freshman attacker Chet Dunstan added his name to the scoresheet with his first career goal at 5:42 remaining in the game. Mercer registered three goals in the final period to narrow Air Force's lead, 14-6, at the final whistle.
The Falcons outshot the Bears, 45-19, while peppering Mercer's goalie with 24 shots on goal. Mercer picked up six more ground balls than Air Force (26-20) and won the majority of face-offs at X (15-24). Air Force went one-for-three in man-up opportunities. The Falcons' defense caused 10 turnovers, led by Nicholas Accardi, Brandon Jones and Joe Matarazzo with two caused turnovers apiece. Jones led Air Force with five ground balls collected. Freshman goalkeeper Paxton Boyer was credited with his fifth win, registering two saves while allowing four goals.
Air Force returns to Falcon Stadium to defend the home turf against the Jacksonville Dolphins in conference action, Sat., March 25, at noon MT. The Falcons and 'Phins will meet for the sixth time in program history. Air Force leads the five-game series, 4-1.
