Falcon Lacrosse Tripped up in Season Opener Against No. 1 Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Air Force fell to No. 1 Virginia, 21-11, in the 2022 season opener, Saturday afternoon, at Klöckner Stadium. The defending national champion Cavaliers battled back from an early deficit to stave off an aggressive Falcon lacrosse team.

Junior attackman Brandon Dodd led the Air Force offense against the back-to-back champs, netting four goals on 11 shots, six on cage. Dodd was one-of-six Falcons to find nylon against the stout UVA defense.

Klöckner Stadium gasped when Air Force's sophomore defender Chris Bardak netted the first goal of the 2022 campaign. Bardak, a staunch defenseman, finished the game with two goals and a caused turnover.

The Falcons wrangled Bardak's early momentum and pushed forward, outscoring UVA, 3-0, in the first 15 minutes with a pair of unassisted goals from Aiden Tolen and Brenden Crouse. Crouse finished the game with two goals and an assist to his credit. Air Force's leading scorer in 2021, Ethan Grandolfo, chimed in with a goal and an assist on the day.

Freshmen Daniel Enoch, Wes Peene, and Alexander Stepney tallied an assist apiece in their collegiate debuts. The young Falcons helped Air Force outscore UVA, 5-4, in the fourth quarter.

Veteran Air Force defender Quentin Carlile disrupted UVA with a caused turnover while also snagging up a team-high six ground balls. Junior teammate Shad Bruce picked up five groundballs with a CT on the scoresheet. Junior goalie Jason Rose was integral in the first-quarter shutout as he snagged five impressive saves against a seasoned national champion team. Rose finished with 14 saves.

Senior co-team captain Brian Michael represented AF at the center dot, winning 9-of-20 attempts. Michael scooped up three ground balls on the game.

At the final horn, Air Force's offense took 31 shots to UVA's 51, while the Falcon defense denied the Cavaliers their only man-up opportunity. Virginia had two scorers with four goals in Payton Cormier and Xander Dickson.

Next up, the Falcons travel to Denver to take on the Pioneers, Saturday, February 12, at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Action is slated for a noon start.

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