Wednesday, November 13
USAFA, CO
3:00 PM MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Houston Baptist
Men's Soccer Opens WAC Tournament Against Houston Baptist
11/12/2019 3:04:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Air Force men's soccer will kick off against HBU in the first round, Wednesday at 3 p.m. MT
FIRST ROUND: The 2019 WAC Men's Soccer Tournament kicks off on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 13) as the league's automatic selection to the NCAA Tournament will be up for grabs. Third-seeded Air Force (7-10, 6-5 WAC) takes on six-seed Houston Baptist (7-10, 5-6 WAC) in the first round at 3 p.m. MST on Wednesday, at Cadet Soccer Stadium, USAFA.
Fourth-seed CSU Bakersfield and fifth-seed San José State will open the tournament on Wednesday at noon MT and second-seed Utah Valley will play seventh-seed Kansas City at 6 p.m. MT. Regular season champion Seattle U earned the only bye as the top seed and will take on the winner of CSUB/SJSU on Friday at 3 p.m. MT in the first semifinal match.
THE SERIES WITH HBU: The match marks the 16th meeting between the teams and the first-ever in conference playoff action. The Falcons lead the 15-match series, 9-4-2. Air Force has won the last four meetings, holding the Huskies scoreless in three-of-four of those matches. The Falcons are 4-2-1 against HBU when playing at USAFA. Earlier this season, the Falcons beat the Huskies, 3-1, in Houston.
AIR FORCE AT THE WAC TOURNAMENT: Air Force is making its fourth-straight WAC Tournament appearance since 2016 and seventh WAC appearance of all-time. The Falcons, who won the regular season title last year to take the top seed, fell one-nil to Grand Canyon in a first round heartbreaker. In 2016, Air Force battled its way to the finals where they fell to UNLV, 2-1.
UP NEXT: A first round win will put the Falcons in the semifinals against the winner of match No. 3 between Kansas City and Utah Valley. Semifinal match No. 2 (match No. 5) is slated to be played Friday (Nov. 15) at 6 p.m.
AROUND THE LEAGUE: Seattle U became the fourth team in WAC men's soccer history to go through the WAC season without a loss, joining Air Force (2017), Seattle U (2013) and SMU (1998). Their 10 wins are also a new WAC-best, breaking the previous mark of nine from Seattle U (2015) and SMU (1999).
Seattle U continues to lead the WAC in shots (320), points (108), goals (37), shutouts (9) and corner kicks (125). The Redhawks are also tied with Utah Valley for the lead in assists (34) while UT Rio Grande Valley finished its season leading the league in least goals allowed (14) and goals against average (0.84). California Baptist holds the top mark in saves (107).
Individually, UVU's Blake Frischknecht is the leader in shots (82), and game-winning goals (6). AF's Tristan Trager holds the top spot in points (30) and goals (13). SU's Declan McGlynn and AF's Lathan Spadafora are tied for the assists lead (7). In goal, UTRGV's Andy Rios holds the top goals against average (0.84) and CBU's Albert Escuin is the leader in save percentage (.836) and saves (107). SU's Akili Kasim is the shutouts leader with nine.
In WAC-only play, Seattle U held the top spot in shots (189), points (77) and assists (25). The Redhawks also tied Air Force for the lead in goals (26) and with UT Rio Grande Valley for the lead in least goals allowed (8). UTRGV led the league in goals against average (0.70) and shutotus (6) and California Baptist held the top mark in saves (71).
Individually, UVU's Frischknecht led the league in shots (55) and game-winning goals (4). AF's Trager was the leader in points (24) and goals (10). SU's McGylnn and AF's Spadafora are tied for the assists lead (6). In goal, UTRGV's Rios held a WAC-best 0.70 goals against average and six shutouts while CBU's Escuin holds the top mark in save percentage (.877) and saves (71).
Seattle U moved into the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 this week, taking over the 21st spot in the poll. The Redhawks are also 19th in the College Soccer News Top 30.
Regular season champion Seattle U leads WAC teams in the latest NCAA RPI rankings, moving up four spots to 40th. Utah VAlley is second in the WAC at 87.
This week's United Soccer Coaches' Far West Regional Rankings feature two teams from the WAC. Seattle U moved up two spots to third and Utah Valley stayed idle seventh.
LAST TIME OUT: Air Force fell to Utah Valley, 4-1, in the regular-season finale, Saturday afternoon (Nov. 9) at Clyde Field in Orem, Utah. The Falcons finalized the regular season slate at 7-10 overall with a 6-5 record in the Western Athletic Conference. Utah Valley improved to 11-6-1 overall with an 8-3 mark in the league.
Sophomore standout Tristan Trager led the Falcons with a goal on four shots taken during the match, two of which were taken on goal. At the conclusion of the regular season, Trager leads all players in the league with 13 goals and 30 points.
Fourth-seed CSU Bakersfield and fifth-seed San José State will open the tournament on Wednesday at noon MT and second-seed Utah Valley will play seventh-seed Kansas City at 6 p.m. MT. Regular season champion Seattle U earned the only bye as the top seed and will take on the winner of CSUB/SJSU on Friday at 3 p.m. MT in the first semifinal match.
THE SERIES WITH HBU: The match marks the 16th meeting between the teams and the first-ever in conference playoff action. The Falcons lead the 15-match series, 9-4-2. Air Force has won the last four meetings, holding the Huskies scoreless in three-of-four of those matches. The Falcons are 4-2-1 against HBU when playing at USAFA. Earlier this season, the Falcons beat the Huskies, 3-1, in Houston.
AIR FORCE AT THE WAC TOURNAMENT: Air Force is making its fourth-straight WAC Tournament appearance since 2016 and seventh WAC appearance of all-time. The Falcons, who won the regular season title last year to take the top seed, fell one-nil to Grand Canyon in a first round heartbreaker. In 2016, Air Force battled its way to the finals where they fell to UNLV, 2-1.
UP NEXT: A first round win will put the Falcons in the semifinals against the winner of match No. 3 between Kansas City and Utah Valley. Semifinal match No. 2 (match No. 5) is slated to be played Friday (Nov. 15) at 6 p.m.
AROUND THE LEAGUE: Seattle U became the fourth team in WAC men's soccer history to go through the WAC season without a loss, joining Air Force (2017), Seattle U (2013) and SMU (1998). Their 10 wins are also a new WAC-best, breaking the previous mark of nine from Seattle U (2015) and SMU (1999).
Seattle U continues to lead the WAC in shots (320), points (108), goals (37), shutouts (9) and corner kicks (125). The Redhawks are also tied with Utah Valley for the lead in assists (34) while UT Rio Grande Valley finished its season leading the league in least goals allowed (14) and goals against average (0.84). California Baptist holds the top mark in saves (107).
Individually, UVU's Blake Frischknecht is the leader in shots (82), and game-winning goals (6). AF's Tristan Trager holds the top spot in points (30) and goals (13). SU's Declan McGlynn and AF's Lathan Spadafora are tied for the assists lead (7). In goal, UTRGV's Andy Rios holds the top goals against average (0.84) and CBU's Albert Escuin is the leader in save percentage (.836) and saves (107). SU's Akili Kasim is the shutouts leader with nine.
In WAC-only play, Seattle U held the top spot in shots (189), points (77) and assists (25). The Redhawks also tied Air Force for the lead in goals (26) and with UT Rio Grande Valley for the lead in least goals allowed (8). UTRGV led the league in goals against average (0.70) and shutotus (6) and California Baptist held the top mark in saves (71).
Individually, UVU's Frischknecht led the league in shots (55) and game-winning goals (4). AF's Trager was the leader in points (24) and goals (10). SU's McGylnn and AF's Spadafora are tied for the assists lead (6). In goal, UTRGV's Rios held a WAC-best 0.70 goals against average and six shutouts while CBU's Escuin holds the top mark in save percentage (.877) and saves (71).
Seattle U moved into the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 this week, taking over the 21st spot in the poll. The Redhawks are also 19th in the College Soccer News Top 30.
Regular season champion Seattle U leads WAC teams in the latest NCAA RPI rankings, moving up four spots to 40th. Utah VAlley is second in the WAC at 87.
This week's United Soccer Coaches' Far West Regional Rankings feature two teams from the WAC. Seattle U moved up two spots to third and Utah Valley stayed idle seventh.
LAST TIME OUT: Air Force fell to Utah Valley, 4-1, in the regular-season finale, Saturday afternoon (Nov. 9) at Clyde Field in Orem, Utah. The Falcons finalized the regular season slate at 7-10 overall with a 6-5 record in the Western Athletic Conference. Utah Valley improved to 11-6-1 overall with an 8-3 mark in the league.
Sophomore standout Tristan Trager led the Falcons with a goal on four shots taken during the match, two of which were taken on goal. At the conclusion of the regular season, Trager leads all players in the league with 13 goals and 30 points.
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