Air Force Rally Comes up Short as Falcons Drop 2-1 Contest at Seattle U

Team	1	2	Final F
Air Force	0	1	1
Seattle U	1	1	2

Air Force

Seattle U

SEATLLE, Wash. - Air Force was in hot pursuit of Seattle U all night but was unable to close the distance at the end of regulation, falling 2-1, to the Western Athletic Conference's top team, Friday evening, at Championship Field. The Falcons, now 5-8 with a 4-3 mark in the WAC, maintain playoff hopes heading into the second match of the weekend. Seattle U (9-3-3, 6-0-1 WAC) is the only team to remain unbeaten in the conference.

Air Force was outshot by a WAC opponent for the first time this season as the Red Hawks tallied 24 shots to the Falcons' 11. Lathan Spadafora, who leads Air Force in shots so far this season, took three on the night while teammates Tristan Trager, Elijah Bussey and Quinn Matulis followed up with two apiece.

The first strike of the match came late in the first half as two-touch assist from Declan McGlynn and Hal Udertiz helped Noe Meza score a goal in the 44^th minute, giving the Red Hawks a one-goal advantage at the half.

The Red Hawks, who sit atop the conference standings, outshot Air Force, 12-4, in the first half-- a feat that no other WAC team had achieved against the Falcons this season.

The situation was further complicated in the second hald as Seattle took a two-nil lead with a strike in the 66^th minute where Burke Fahling sent a cross to Udertiz who headed the ball into Kainoa Likewise's reach, but the sophomore keeper for Air Force was unable to stop the score.

Four minutes later, a foul in the Red Hawk's box awarded the Falcons a penalty kick. Quinn Matulis, a freshman midfielder leads the squad with seven goals this season, was sent forth to take the shot which he converted to bring Air Force within one in the 69^th minute. Matulis is perfect in penalty kicks this season (2-2).

In the 78^th minute, a foul in the Air Force box set the stage for McGlynn who stepped up to take a penalty kick with the hopes of adding an insurance goal against Likewise. The 2018 WAC Freshman of the Year who leads SU in goals this season, shot low-right but Likewise beat him to the target, making the save and keeping the Falcons in the match. Likewise recorded a career-best 10 saves against the trigger-happy Red Hawks.

Air Force continued to put pressure on the Red Hawk defense but was unable to find the equalizer before the 90-minute expiration.

The Falcons return to action Sunday against San Jose State, in San Jose, California. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. PT, at Spartan Field.

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