Friday, September 17
USAFA, CO
6:00 PM
Air Force Academy
vs
Denver
Men's Soccer to Host Denver in Friday Matchup
9/16/2021 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
WEEK 04/MATCH 06
Air Force (1-3-1) vs. Denver (3-1-1)
Friday, September 17, 6 p.m. MT
Cadet Soccer Stadium, USAFA
WATCH | STATS
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.
Current Defense Department and Air Force Academy rules require all individuals to wear a mask inside Academy facilities. All individuals who have not been fully vaccinated must wear masks outside on military installations.
A LOOK AT THE PIOS
Denver is 3-1-1 so far this season with four common opponents. They picked up the win against a common opponent in Portland, 1-0, and falling to a common opponent in Oregon State, 3-0. DU edged by two more common opponents in Evansville, 1-0, and Cal State Fullerton, 2-1, both played in Denver.
No single Pioneer currently leads the squad as five players have a goal apiece and five players have two points apiece. Aidan O'Toole and Stefan DeLeone leads the squad with nine shots each.
Two-time captain Liam Johnson was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. Denver's freshman class was ranked the seventh-best recruiting class in the country according to Top Drawer Soccer.
THE SERIES
Air Force and Denver will be meeting for the 59th time in program history with the Falcons leading the all-time series, 30-23-5. In terms of Div. I meetings, The Pioneers lead the DI series by a count of 15-10-2 as the two teams are set to meet in an official match this weekend. Denver is 8-6-0 against the Falcons in Colorado Springs.
The last time the teams met was in the 2018 NCAA Tournament where Air Force upended the ninth-seeded Pioneers, 2-1, to advance to the Sweet 16.
UP NEXT
The Falcons play the last of a four-match home stint as they welcome Western Athletic Conference opponent, San Jose State, to Cadet Soccer Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 25. Kickoff is slated for 11 am. The last time the teams met was in the 2020-21 WAC Tournament where Air Force came from behind to beat the Spartans in PKs, 2-2 (4-3 PK).
LAST WEEK
Air Force went 1-0-1 over the weekend, tying CSU Fullerton on Friday, 3-3, and blowing by Evansville, 5-1, on Sunday. Air Force's eight combined goals over the weekend propelled them to second in the league and 24 in the nation in total goals scored (11)
DEWING WINS WAC O-POTW
Thaddaeus Dewing scored twice to help the Falcons go 1-0-1 in their home openers. On Friday against Cal State Fullerton, he scored his first goal of the season in the 63rd minute to put the Falcons up 3-0. On Sunday, Dewing scored the equalizer in the 26th minute and the Falcons added four more to blow past Evansville, 5-1. The honor marked a career-first for Dewing.
DEFEND THE TURF
The Falcons vehemently defend their home turf, going 34-7-2 (.833) while playing at home in the last four seasons. In 2018, the Falcons were perfect at home (10-0) for the first time in program history. In 2017, Air Force won a program-best 11 home matches, going 11-1 on the home pitch for the campaign.
WAC BY THE NUMBERS
As a team, Seattle U is the leader in shots (80), saves (27) and are tied with three other teams (Chicago State, Grand Canyon and Houston Baptist) for the lead in shutouts (2). UT Rio Grande Valley is the leader in points (37), goals (14) and goals per game (2.33) while Utah Valley holds the lead in assists (12), assists per game (2.40), goals against average (0.73) and are tied with Grand Canyon for the lead in goals allowed (4). The Falcons lead the league in shots per game (6.60).
Individually, UTRGV's Reshaun Walkes is the leader in shots (17), points (15), points per game (2.50), goals (6) and goals per game (1.00). GCU's Justin Rasmussen is the leader in shots per game (3.20) and is one of six players with three assists while he is also tied with AFA's Giulano Daniel and UVU's Jojea Kwizera for the lead in assists per game (0.60). In net, CBU's Evan Ince is the leader in goals against average (0.49) and save percentage (.889) while SU's Akili Kasim is the leader in saves (27) and is tied with GCU's Rafael Guerrero and CSU's Joe Bowles for the lead in shutouts (2).
Air Force (1-3-1) vs. Denver (3-1-1)
Friday, September 17, 6 p.m. MT
Cadet Soccer Stadium, USAFA
WATCH | STATS
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.
Current Defense Department and Air Force Academy rules require all individuals to wear a mask inside Academy facilities. All individuals who have not been fully vaccinated must wear masks outside on military installations.
A LOOK AT THE PIOS
Denver is 3-1-1 so far this season with four common opponents. They picked up the win against a common opponent in Portland, 1-0, and falling to a common opponent in Oregon State, 3-0. DU edged by two more common opponents in Evansville, 1-0, and Cal State Fullerton, 2-1, both played in Denver.
No single Pioneer currently leads the squad as five players have a goal apiece and five players have two points apiece. Aidan O'Toole and Stefan DeLeone leads the squad with nine shots each.
Two-time captain Liam Johnson was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. Denver's freshman class was ranked the seventh-best recruiting class in the country according to Top Drawer Soccer.
THE SERIES
Air Force and Denver will be meeting for the 59th time in program history with the Falcons leading the all-time series, 30-23-5. In terms of Div. I meetings, The Pioneers lead the DI series by a count of 15-10-2 as the two teams are set to meet in an official match this weekend. Denver is 8-6-0 against the Falcons in Colorado Springs.
The last time the teams met was in the 2018 NCAA Tournament where Air Force upended the ninth-seeded Pioneers, 2-1, to advance to the Sweet 16.
UP NEXT
The Falcons play the last of a four-match home stint as they welcome Western Athletic Conference opponent, San Jose State, to Cadet Soccer Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 25. Kickoff is slated for 11 am. The last time the teams met was in the 2020-21 WAC Tournament where Air Force came from behind to beat the Spartans in PKs, 2-2 (4-3 PK).
LAST WEEK
Air Force went 1-0-1 over the weekend, tying CSU Fullerton on Friday, 3-3, and blowing by Evansville, 5-1, on Sunday. Air Force's eight combined goals over the weekend propelled them to second in the league and 24 in the nation in total goals scored (11)
DEWING WINS WAC O-POTW
Thaddaeus Dewing scored twice to help the Falcons go 1-0-1 in their home openers. On Friday against Cal State Fullerton, he scored his first goal of the season in the 63rd minute to put the Falcons up 3-0. On Sunday, Dewing scored the equalizer in the 26th minute and the Falcons added four more to blow past Evansville, 5-1. The honor marked a career-first for Dewing.
DEFEND THE TURF
The Falcons vehemently defend their home turf, going 34-7-2 (.833) while playing at home in the last four seasons. In 2018, the Falcons were perfect at home (10-0) for the first time in program history. In 2017, Air Force won a program-best 11 home matches, going 11-1 on the home pitch for the campaign.
WAC BY THE NUMBERS
As a team, Seattle U is the leader in shots (80), saves (27) and are tied with three other teams (Chicago State, Grand Canyon and Houston Baptist) for the lead in shutouts (2). UT Rio Grande Valley is the leader in points (37), goals (14) and goals per game (2.33) while Utah Valley holds the lead in assists (12), assists per game (2.40), goals against average (0.73) and are tied with Grand Canyon for the lead in goals allowed (4). The Falcons lead the league in shots per game (6.60).
Individually, UTRGV's Reshaun Walkes is the leader in shots (17), points (15), points per game (2.50), goals (6) and goals per game (1.00). GCU's Justin Rasmussen is the leader in shots per game (3.20) and is one of six players with three assists while he is also tied with AFA's Giulano Daniel and UVU's Jojea Kwizera for the lead in assists per game (0.60). In net, CBU's Evan Ince is the leader in goals against average (0.49) and save percentage (.889) while SU's Akili Kasim is the leader in saves (27) and is tied with GCU's Rafael Guerrero and CSU's Joe Bowles for the lead in shutouts (2).
Players Mentioned
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