Friday, October 4
San Antonio, TX
6:00 PM MT
Air Force Academy
at
Incarnate Word
Photo by: U.S. Air Force photo / Trevor Co
Men's Soccer Takes on Incarnate Word, UTRGV on the Road this Weekend
10/3/2019 2:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Watch Live on the WAC Digital NetworkLive Stats: Air Force at Incarnate WordLive Stats: Air Force at UT-Rio Grande Valley
Air Force men's soccer continues Western Athletic Conference play with a pair of matches in Texas
THIS WEEKEND: The Falcons travel to Texas for a pair of conference matches over the weekend. Air Force takes on Incarnate Word (3-4, 0-1), Friday (Oct. 4), at 7 PM CT, in San Antonio. On Sunday (Oct. 6), the Falcons take the pitch against UT-Rio Grande Valley, at noon CT, in Edinburg. UTRGV will play host to Utah Valley on Friday.
THE SERIES: Air Force and Incarnate Words will be meeting for the sixth time in program history with the Falcons remaining unbeaten in the five-game series, 5-0. Last season, Air Force blanked the Cardinals, 4-0, at USAFA.
Air Force and the Vaqueros of UTRGV will be meeting for the fifth time in the all-time series, the Falcons are also unbeaten against UTRGV, holding a 3-0-1 series advantage. The Vaqueros, who currently lead the WAC and are now appearing in national polls, will attempt to redeem last season's 2-1 loss to the Falcons at USAFA. The last time the Air Force played UTRGV in Texas, the teams retired from the pitch tied at one.
UP NEXT: Air Force returns to Cadet Soccer Stadium to host a pair of conference matches over the weekend. On Friday (Oct. 10), Air Force will face off against California Baptist, at 6 p.m. The Falcons will then take on CSU Bakersfield on Sunday (Oct. 12), at 1 p.m. The conclusion of the matches will mark the half-way point of the WAC slate.
AROUND THE LEAGUE: It's the first full week of conference play as teams look to get off to a quick start in the league table. Utah Valley and Air Force head to Texas to take on UT Rio Grande Valley and UIW. UNLV and Grand Canyon head west to take on California Baptist and CSU Bakersfield. The third foursome includes Kansas City and Utah Valley traveling to San José State and Seattle U.
Posting one of the top non-conference records in the country, UT Rio Grande Valley broke into the national polls this week, coming in at 24th in the Top Drawer Soccer Top 25. UTRGV is also among those receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 and the College Soccer News Top 30.
WAC BY THE NUMBERS: Seattle U leads the league in shots (152), shutouts (5), corners (62) and are tied with CSU Bakersfield and Utah Valley for the lead in goals (13). UVU also has the lead in points (43) and assists (17). UT Rio Grande Valley and Grand Canyon are tied for the lead in least goals allowed (6) while GCU holds the top goals against average (0.83). UNLV is the leader in saves with 48.
Individually, UVU's Blake Frischknecht and CBU's Rafael Vacas Barba are the co-leaders in shots (35). Air Force's Tristan Trager leads the league in points (11) and is also tied for the lead in goals (5) with Frischknecht and SU's Noe Meza. UTRGV duo Arthur Rogers and Angel Lopez share the lead for assists (4) and Meza also has the lead in game-winning goals (3). In goal, GCU's George Tasouris is the leader in goals against average (0.83) and UIW's Carlos Mercado has the top save percentage (.828). CBU's Albert Escuin has a league-high 45 saves and SU's Akili Kasim leads the WAC with five shutouts.
LAST WEEKEND: Air Force's explosive second half propelled the Falcons to a 4-1 victory over Kansas City in the Western Athletic Conference opener, Saturday afternoon, at Cadet Soccer Stadium. The win lifts Air Force to a 2-5 overall record, snapping a five-game cold streak.
Sophomore forward Tristan Trager was the difference-maker, registering two goals and an assist on the day, for a career-high performance. The Falcons out shot the Roos, 16-10, marking the second-straight match that Air Force has fired off more shots than the opponent. Trager led the squad with three shots while JT D'Emidio and Alec Young took the second most with two apiece while nine other Falcons recorded a shot apiece.
Sophomore keeper Kainoa Likewise recorded 90 minutes in the cage, making three saves on 10 shots faced, notching his second career win in goal for the Falcons.
NEW BLOOD: The Falcons returned one starter from the historic 2018 campaign in senior team captain Nick Blessing. Of Air Force's 11 primary starters this season, eight are sophomores or younger. The underclassmen account for all Air Force goals this season; Tristan Trager, a sophomore, has five goals while sophomore teammates Lathan Spadafora and JT D'Emidio have one each. Trager is in a three-way for most goals in the WAC. The freshmen account for three goals.
THE SERIES: Air Force and Incarnate Words will be meeting for the sixth time in program history with the Falcons remaining unbeaten in the five-game series, 5-0. Last season, Air Force blanked the Cardinals, 4-0, at USAFA.
Air Force and the Vaqueros of UTRGV will be meeting for the fifth time in the all-time series, the Falcons are also unbeaten against UTRGV, holding a 3-0-1 series advantage. The Vaqueros, who currently lead the WAC and are now appearing in national polls, will attempt to redeem last season's 2-1 loss to the Falcons at USAFA. The last time the Air Force played UTRGV in Texas, the teams retired from the pitch tied at one.
UP NEXT: Air Force returns to Cadet Soccer Stadium to host a pair of conference matches over the weekend. On Friday (Oct. 10), Air Force will face off against California Baptist, at 6 p.m. The Falcons will then take on CSU Bakersfield on Sunday (Oct. 12), at 1 p.m. The conclusion of the matches will mark the half-way point of the WAC slate.
AROUND THE LEAGUE: It's the first full week of conference play as teams look to get off to a quick start in the league table. Utah Valley and Air Force head to Texas to take on UT Rio Grande Valley and UIW. UNLV and Grand Canyon head west to take on California Baptist and CSU Bakersfield. The third foursome includes Kansas City and Utah Valley traveling to San José State and Seattle U.
Posting one of the top non-conference records in the country, UT Rio Grande Valley broke into the national polls this week, coming in at 24th in the Top Drawer Soccer Top 25. UTRGV is also among those receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 and the College Soccer News Top 30.
WAC BY THE NUMBERS: Seattle U leads the league in shots (152), shutouts (5), corners (62) and are tied with CSU Bakersfield and Utah Valley for the lead in goals (13). UVU also has the lead in points (43) and assists (17). UT Rio Grande Valley and Grand Canyon are tied for the lead in least goals allowed (6) while GCU holds the top goals against average (0.83). UNLV is the leader in saves with 48.
Individually, UVU's Blake Frischknecht and CBU's Rafael Vacas Barba are the co-leaders in shots (35). Air Force's Tristan Trager leads the league in points (11) and is also tied for the lead in goals (5) with Frischknecht and SU's Noe Meza. UTRGV duo Arthur Rogers and Angel Lopez share the lead for assists (4) and Meza also has the lead in game-winning goals (3). In goal, GCU's George Tasouris is the leader in goals against average (0.83) and UIW's Carlos Mercado has the top save percentage (.828). CBU's Albert Escuin has a league-high 45 saves and SU's Akili Kasim leads the WAC with five shutouts.
LAST WEEKEND: Air Force's explosive second half propelled the Falcons to a 4-1 victory over Kansas City in the Western Athletic Conference opener, Saturday afternoon, at Cadet Soccer Stadium. The win lifts Air Force to a 2-5 overall record, snapping a five-game cold streak.
Sophomore forward Tristan Trager was the difference-maker, registering two goals and an assist on the day, for a career-high performance. The Falcons out shot the Roos, 16-10, marking the second-straight match that Air Force has fired off more shots than the opponent. Trager led the squad with three shots while JT D'Emidio and Alec Young took the second most with two apiece while nine other Falcons recorded a shot apiece.
Sophomore keeper Kainoa Likewise recorded 90 minutes in the cage, making three saves on 10 shots faced, notching his second career win in goal for the Falcons.
NEW BLOOD: The Falcons returned one starter from the historic 2018 campaign in senior team captain Nick Blessing. Of Air Force's 11 primary starters this season, eight are sophomores or younger. The underclassmen account for all Air Force goals this season; Tristan Trager, a sophomore, has five goals while sophomore teammates Lathan Spadafora and JT D'Emidio have one each. Trager is in a three-way for most goals in the WAC. The freshmen account for three goals.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfield
/ Men's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's SoccerPathways: An Air Force Men's Soccer Alumni Story
Monday, February 02
Why Join the Air Force Academy
Monday, February 02
Air Force Soccer Facilities: Prepare Here. Perform Anywhere
Thursday, January 15
Falcons draw 1-1 against South Dakota Mines
Sunday, September 14
