Air Force Academy
Richmond
Falcon Lacrosse Concludes Season with Loss at Richmond
4/28/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
RICHMOND, Va. - Air Force was outscored, 12-6, in the regular-season finale against Richmond (9-5, 6-1 SoCon), Saturday afternoon, at Robins Stadium in Richmond, Va. The Falcons finalize their 2018 campaign with a 5-10 overall record and a 3-4 mark in league action. The victory also marked the first all-time for Richmond against Air Force, eliminating the Falcons from contention for the SoCon Tournament as only the top four teams earn a spot.
The Falcons and Spiders played a scoreless first period, but Richmond was eventually the first to find an offensive rhythm, outscoring Air Force 6-1 in the second period. Trent Harper was the lone Falcon to punch in a goal off the face off.
Both teams notched two goals apiece in the third period, reducing the Falcons' deficit to 8-3 going into the fourth period. Freshman Ben Ward tallied his first career goal at the 9:46 mark while Matthew Schwartz notched his 16th of the season at the 4:47 mark.
Air Force went on to net three goals in the fourth period but was outscored by the Spiders who netted four goals by the end of regulation. Andrew Tien sent a bullet in for his 10th goal of the season, followed up by senior teammate Nick Hruby who capitalized on the man-up situation, narrowing Richmond's lead, 9-5. The Spiders rattled off three goals over a span of 90-seconds, extending to a 12-5 lead with 48-seconds remaining. Hruby refused to go quietly, punching in his 27th goal of the season with 32-second remaining in a man-down situation. Hruby concludes his career at Air Force with the second-most career goals (112) in program history.
Air Force's fate fell Furman and Bellarmine who were engaged in a heated exchange in Louisville, Kentucky. Bellarmine, who Air Force needed to win for a SoCon tournament berth, notched the equalizing goal, 7-7, with 34-seconds remaining in regulation. Furman, determined to control its destiny, scored the game-winner with three seconds remaining, lifting the Paladins to an 8-7 win and extinguishing Air Force's post-season hopes.
The Falcons will retire the 2018 season to the history books with the end of the year awards banquet in May.
