Air Force Academy
High Point
High Point Edges by Air Force, 7-6
4/21/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Box Score 
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. - A High Point goal with 20-seconds remaining in the game lifted the Panthers to a 7-6 victory over Air Force on Senior Day. The Falcons drop to 5-9 with a 3-3 mark in league action. High Point (5-7, 5-1 SoCon) extends to a four-game winning streak heading into the final weekend of regular season play.
The Falcons and Panthers played a scoreless first quarter in the snow as they looked to settle into their game plans. Air Force's Trey Lervick was the first to light up the scoreboard at the 12:57 mark in the second period with a brilliant over-the-shoulder no-look goal just atop the crease. Just over three minutes after the first goal, sophomore attacker Matthew Schwartz followed up with his 15th goal of the season in an unassisted attack from behind the cage. A cross-check penalty by Air Force allotted the Panthers a man-up opportunity which they capitalized on at the 4:31 mark. The Falcons entered half time with the lead, 2-1.
Air Force came out swinging in the third period, notching two-straight goals to extend to a 4-1 lead. Andrew Tien, who was one-of-four seniors celebrated prior to the game, fired a rocket from 15 yards out, snapping the net for Air Force's third goal via Chet Dunstan's assist. Team captain Nick Hruby found Lervick open who then slung a ripper from 10-yards out for his 14th goal of the season at the 11:14 mark. High Point's Connor Robinson rebutted with two-straight unassisted goals, bringing High Point within one. The Panthers found themselves in another man-up opportunity following a Falcon interference call. The Panthers capitalized on the opportunity for the second time, netting the equalizer with just four-seconds remaining in the period. The Falcons and Panthers entered the fourth quarter knotted at four.
Panther freshman Asher Knowlton, who was added to the Tewaaraton watch list earlier this season, was the first to strike in the fourth period in an unassisted attack. Hruby responded with an unassisted goal of his own, marking his 25th goal of the season with the equalizer. With 2:35 remaining in regulation, Nolting fed Chris Young for a goal. With 1:04 remaining, Cameron Carter found Chet Dunstan open who received the ball and diverted it into the back of the Panther's cage, knotting the teams up at six. Nolting, who has been ultra-consistent, tallying at least three points in 11-straight appearances, notched his third point of the game with an unassisted goal at 20-seconds remaining, lifting the Panthers to a 7-6 lead. Air Force was unable to convert the equalizer in the waning seconds of the game.
The Falcons outshot the Panthers, 37-27, but struggled at the face off X, winning only seven face offs in 17 attempts. Lervick, Schwartz, Hruby and Dunstan tallied two points apiece. Tien led the team eight shots and two ground balls. Freshman defender Vince Lombardi led the Falcons with three caused turnovers, while freshman goalkeeper Braden Host recorded eight first-half saves. He is now 5-5 in the Falcons' cage.
The Falcons travel to Richmond, Virginia, for the regular-season finale against Richmond, Sat., Apr. 28, at noon (ET). The Falcons have downed Richmond in the past two regular-season meetings and the past two Southern Conference championship games (2016, 2017). The rivalry started in the 2014 season where Air Force eliminated Richmond in the NCAA play-in game. Air Force is 5-0 against the SoCon heavyweight. A berth into the SoCon post-season tournament hangs in the balance.
