Men’s Soccer Downs UNLV, 3-2

U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. - Sophomore midfielder Tristan Trager scored three goals for his second hat trick of the weekend, leading Air Force to a 3-2 win against UNLV (5-12-2, 3-6-1), Saturday afternoon at Cadet Lacrosse Stadium. The Falcons, now 7-9 with a 6-4 mark in the league, are positioned to secure a spot in the WAC's playoff tournament, hosted at the Academy in two weeks.

Trager, a sophomore midfielder out of San Clemente, California, scored six goals this weekend, he leads the Falcons with 11 on the season. Trager also led Air Force in shots for the second-straight match this weekend with four shots on the day while teammate Lathan Spadafora recorded three shots, all on frame. As a team, the Falcons out shot UNLV, 16-15.

The Falcons' first strike came in the fifth minute as a foul just atop the keeper's box yielded Air Force a free kick from 10-yards out. Trager stepped up to take the shot where he finished high to the cross-bar where the ball quickly deflected down and past the UNLV keeper.

UNLV responded in the 28^th minute with an unassisted goal by Tyler Allen to knot the match at one. At the half Air Force was outshooting the Rebels, 11-3.

The Falcons regained the lead early in the 59^th minute as freshman midfielder Elijah Bussey was fouled in the keeper's box, giving Air Force a penalty kick opportunity. Trager stepped up to take the shot where he beat the UNLV keeper to the low right side of the goal.

The Falcons added an insurance goal in the 74^th minute as Spadafora's deflected shot returned to sender where he then flicked the ball over to an open Trager who headed in Air Force's third goal. Spadafora was awarded with his fourth assist this weekend, and seventh of the season.

With the majority of Air Force reserves in the match, UNLV's Timo Mehlich scored an unassisted to goal in the 88^th minute as the Rebels attempted to rally. The Falcons' young defensemen held off the rallying attack, sealing the deal at 3-2 at the final horn.

Next up, Air Force travels to Utah Valley to take on the Wolverines in the regular-season finale, Saturday (Nov. 9), at 1 p.m. MT.

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Team Stats

Tristan Trager

Lathan Spadafora

Luke Hill

Julian Flores

Players Mentioned

Elijah Bussey

Lathan Spadafora

Tristan Trager

Players Mentioned

Elijah Bussey

Lathan Spadafora

Tristan Trager

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