Air Force Flies by Evansville, 5-1

USAF ACADEMY – A red-hot Air Force second half propelled the Falcons to a 5-1 win over Evansville (0-5-0), Sunday afternoon at Cadet Soccer Stadium. The long overdue win to improved Air Force's record to 1-3-1 on the season.

Evansville's Carlos Barcia was the first to strike on the match, capitalizing on an opening off the set piece serviced by Raphaello Colasito in the 16^th minute. It was the last time the Purple Aces would experience the thrill of a goal for the match.

Air Force's Thaddaeus Dewing notched the equalizer as a shot by teammate Lathan Spadafora was deflected off the Aces' keeper right into the keep of Dewing who sent an uncontested floater in for the finish.

Air Force and Evansville entered the halftime locker room knotted at one goal apiece with the Falcons holding a narrow advantage in first-half shots, 5-4.

Air Force returned to the pitch a different team, controlling the possessions with an aggressive offense and suffocating defense. The Falcons took the lead in the 59^th minute as senior team captain Giuliano Daniel plugged in a beauty from 30-yards out via a touch from sophomore Remi Smith.

Less than a minute later, Luke Hill sent in a worm-burner right down the middle after Smith's shot deflected off the keeper, giving Air Force a comfortable 3-1 lead. Seven minutes later at the 66:00 minute mark, Elijah Bussey took the ball down the pitch on the far side and connected with Spadafora in full stride who turned a quick corner and finished with a right-footed strike high and center.

Air Force's final strike came in the 83^rd minute as Daniel serviced a corner kick across the box toward the near post where Jake Chaffetz met the ball with a diving header to finish the goal.

Dewing and Daniel now how have two goals this season while Hill, Spadafora and Chaffetz notched their firsts of the season.

Falcon keeper Kainoa Likewise recorded two saves and the win in 77 minutes of action. John Byszewski finished the final 13 minutes with no shots against his frame.

At the final horn, Air Force outshot Evansville, 18-5, led by Daniel and Spadafora's three shots apiece.

"It was a long overdue win," head coach Doug Hill said. "It was nice to see five different players account for the five goals as well as get valuable minutes for all of our guys. It feels good to be back in the win column but we have a lot more work to do starting with Denver here next Friday"

Up next, the Falcons welcome the Denver Pioneers to Cadet Soccer Stadium for the third match of a four-match home stint on Friday, September 17, at 6 p.m. The last time the teams met was in preseason exhibitions where they finished with a goal apiece.

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Team Stats

Giuliano Daniel

Lathan Spadafora

Luke Hill

Thaddaeus Dewing

Players Mentioned

Elijah Bussey

John Byszewski

Jake Chaffetz

Giuliano Daniel

Thaddaeus Dewing

Luke Hill

Kainoa Likewise

Remi Smith

Lathan Spadafora

Players Mentioned

Elijah Bussey

John Byszewski

Jake Chaffetz

Giuliano Daniel

Thaddaeus Dewing

Luke Hill

Kainoa Likewise

Remi Smith

Lathan Spadafora

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