Air Force Knocks Off No. 15 Richmond in Regular Season Finale

RICHMOND - A late goal from Brenden Crouse propelled the Falcons past No. 15 Richmond, 9-8, in the nail-biting regular-season finale with playoff implications, Saturday afternoon at Robins Stadium. The Falcons improve to 4-8, 3-3 SOCON after handing Richmond (6-5, 5-1 SOCON) their first conference loss this season.

Sophomore attack man Ethan Grandolfo and senior teammate Ben Ward were first and second, respectively, to light the scoreboard giving the Falcons and early 2-0 lead. Richmond responded with two-straight goals of their own to knot the game at two at the 11-minute mark. The Falcons and Spiders scored back and forth to finish the first quarter tied at four. Air Force freshmen Aidan Tolen and Chris Bardak notched the goals with assists from defensemen Vince Lombardi and Quentin Carlile, respectively.

A defensive second quarter yielded just two total goals in the quarter. Richmond's Richie Connell, who finished with five goals on the game, broke the tie at the 11:43 mark. In response, Bardak connected with Tolen for his second goal with just 52 seconds remaining in the half.

The third quarter was equally as defensive with Air Force mustering the only goal in an unassisted attack by Grandolfo, giving Air Force a 6-5 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The first half of the fourth quarter was all Air Force as the Falcons built a three-goal lead behind a pair of unanswered goals from freshman Dante Orlando for the first and second goals of his collegiate career.

Unwilling to go quietly, Richmond rattled off three-straight goals in just under two minutes to knot the game at eight with 3:53 remaining in regulation. Just under a minute later, Crouse deflated the Spiders as he blasted in a goal with 3:19 remaining in regulation. Richmond, feeling the pressure, frantically fought for an equalizer to no avail.

Sophomore keeper Jason Rose peaked at the right moment, making a career-best 18 saves, marking a season-high by any Air Force goalie this season. Rose was assisted by a Falcon defense that caused 14-of-19 of Richmond's turnovers, led by Carlile's season-high five caused turnovers.

The Air Force face off unit had a victorious day at the center dot, winning 12-of-21 attempts. Brian Michael took the lion's share of attempts, winning 10-of-19, while teammate Dylan Frankhouser went 2-2.

Air Force's victory was half the battle in securing a post-season berth. In order for the Falcons to secure the fourth seed in the tournament, the Falcons needed a hand from the Bellarmine Knights. A Bellarmine win against Mercer, in conjunction with an Air Force win over Richmond, would secure the fourth seed for Air Force.

Bellarmine went on to defeat the Bears, 11-8, helping Air Force to its fourth SOCON tournament appearance in five seasons with the league. The Falcons will run it back it back with top-seeded Richmond in the conference tournament, Wednesday, May 5, at Robins Stadium.

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