Falcon Men's Soccer Hosts Army Saturday
9/7/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Weekly Release 
AIR FORCE vs. ARMY
Saturday, Sept. 9, 6:00 p.m. MT
Cadet Soccer Stadium, USAFA
WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS
THIS WEEK: The Falcons continue action at home with a match against service academy rivals, Army West Point, Saturday, Sept. 9, at 6:00 p.m. MT, Cadet Soccer Stadium, USAFA. In last year's meeting, Air Force took an early 1-0 lead in the 2016 season opener but eventually came up short, 1-3, to the Black Knights of Army, in West Point, N.Y. The last time the teams played at USAFA, Air Force defeated Army, 1-0 in double-overtime, in front of a record crowd of 3,683.
THE RIVALRY SERIES: Air Force is 8-16-4 all-time against Army West Point following last year's loss. In the last 10 years, the Falcons and Black Knights have seen double-overtime four times and extra minutes five times. In the last 10 years, Army's largest margin of victory was a 3-0 win in 2012, while Air Force's largest margin of victory, 2-1, came in 2008.
LAST TIME OUT: Men's soccer split a pair of matches over the weekend. On Sept. 1, Air Force blanked Drake, 2-0, with goals coming from James Sims and Luis Martinez. On Sunday, Sept. 3, Air Force recorded its first lost to Furman, 1-0.
UP NEXT: Air Force continues action at home with a pair of matches against St. Mary's (California), Friday, Sept. 15, at 6:00 p.m. MT, and UC Davis, Sunday, Sept. 17, at 1:00 p.m. MT. The matches mark the end of Air Force's seven-game home stint before they head on the road for the first time this season.
ON THE MAP: The WAC took a little bit of a hit in the national polls but the league is still represented in three of the four national polls. In the College Soccer News Top 30, Utah Valley is ranked 27th and Seattle U is 29th. UVU is also among those receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 while Air Force is among those under consideration in the Top Drawer Soccer Top 25.
A QUICK LOOK AT ARMY: The Black Knights will take the field under the command of head coach Russell Payne, who completed his seventh season as the head men's soccer coach at Army in 2016. During his seven seasons as head coach, Payne has led the Black Knights to a 46-59-22 overall record. Army finished 9-8-2 during the 2016 campaign and reached the Patriot League Tournament for the fourth year in a row. The Black Knights defeated Air Force and Navy to mark the first year they have topped both service academies in the same season since 2007.
Army is led by Keenan O'Shea (3g, 3a) and Rex Epps (4g, 1a), who combine for seven of the team's eight goals this season. O'Shea has also registered three assists, tying the pair atop the Black Knights with nine points apiece. Army has three shutouts on the season, including two three-goal shutouts over Stony Brook and Fairfield. Army's only loss was delivered last week by Farleigh Dickinson, 2-1. The Black Knight's goalie, Justin Stoll, holds a 0.49 goals against average this season with an .857 save percentage. Army has outshot all opponents this season, 55-35; however, they trail Air Force in season shots, 64-55.
Shaban Abousaud, who has tallied a goal and an assist this season, will meet with his younger brother, Munear Abousaud, for the first time on the Falcons' pitch, this Saturday.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: Two weeks into the season, Air Force has flown to the top of the statistical standings in several categories. The Falcons lead the WAC in shots (64), points (18), assists (6) and are tied with CSU Bakersfield and UIW for the lead in goals (6). Kansas City has earned some notice across the league, leading the WAC in goals per game (1.67), goals allowed (0), goals against average (0.00) and shutouts (3). UIW currently has the most saves in the WAC with 17.
