Thursday, August 25
Chapel Hill, NC
5:30 PM MT
Air Force Academy
at
North Carolina
Men's Soccer Opens 2022 Season at No. 24 North Carolina, No. 15 Wake Forest
8/24/2022 10:55:00 AM | Men's Soccer
WEEK 01
Air Force at No. 24 North Carolina, Thursday, Aug. 25, 7:30 p.m. ET
Dorrance Field, Chapel Hill, NC
Air Force at No. 15 Wake Forest, Sunday, Aug. 28, 7 p.m. ET
Spry Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC
THE SERIES
The Falcons and Tar Heels are split 1-1 in the all-time series with Air Force winning the last meeting, 2-1, in the second round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament. The first meeting between the programs was in 1965 where Carolina bested Air Force, 4-0.
Air Force and Wake Forest will be meeting for the second time in program history. The Demon Deacons won the first meeting, one-nil, in Winston-Salem.
LEADING FROM THE FRONT
Senior defender and 2022 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year London Aghedo has been voted team captain by his peers. Aghedo is a three-time All-WAC selection, highlighted by first-team nods in his sophomore and junior campaigns.
WELCOME BACK
The Falcons welcome back six starters and 24 letterwinners from last season. Aghedo has started in every appearance he has made, clocking 4,164 career minutes played in 48 career appearances. He leads all returners with five assists last season. Junior forward Thaddaeus Dewing is the leading scorer to return, notching five goals and an assist last season. Luke Hill tallied three assists last season and has played in a team-high 51 career matches. In goal, coach Hill has a pair of upperclassmen options in John Byzewski and Jakob Stone.
THE HARD WAY
Air Force's 2022 competition schedule features seven 2021 NCAA Tournament qualifiers, highlighted by 2021 College Cup finalists Washington— marking the Falcons' toughest campaign to date.
"I am very excited about our competitive and challenging non-conference schedule this year," Doug Hill said. "It is without a doubt the toughest schedule we have played in the history of Air Force men's soccer."
The Falcons' regular season kicks off with a five-game road stint starting with a pair of ACC powerhouses in No. 24 North Carolina, August 25, and No. 15 Wake Forest, August 28. Air Force follows up with Missouri State (Sept. 2), Central Arkansas (Sept. 5), and will wrap up the early-season road campaign at Washington on September 11. Six AF opponents received nods in the United Soccer Coaches Preaseason Rankings— five of which will be played in the first six matches.
THE NEW GUYS
Falcon men's soccer welcomes 10 freshmen to the team ahead of the 2022 campaign.
Rohan Blackwell - Atlanta, Georgia | Lakeside HS | Atlanta United Academy
Rocco Deppe - Overland Park, Kansas | Rockhurst Jesuit | Kansas Rush Academy
Landon Liddle - Rome, Georgia | Darlington School | Darlington Soccer Academy
Shane Mendez - Cromwell, Connecticut | Xavier HS/South Kent Prep | New York Soccer Club
Michael Moravek - Bethesda, Maryland | Richard Montgomery HS | Bethesda Soccer Club
Ridge Owen - Chula Vista, California | East Lake HS | Albion NPL
Jon Probst - Chandler, Arizona | Perry HS | RSL AZ Phoenix/Real Salt Lake
Steve Rasizzi - Queens, New York | World Journalism Prep School | NYC FC
Sevastian Rodriguez - San Antonio, Texas | Central Catholic HS | Classics Elite ENCL
Josh Spence - Burlington, Kentucky | Randall K. Cooper HS| Kings Hammer Academy
THE POSTSEASON IS THE GOAL
The WAC is looking to send at least one at-large selection to the NCAA DI Men's Soccer Championship for the first time since 2018. The league has boasted multiple NCAA tournament qualifiers on six different occasions, with a high watermark of three teams making the field in 1998.
BUSY FIRST WEEK FOR THE WAC
WAC men's soccer members are scheduled to face eight foes who were either ranked or receiving votes in the season's initial United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll during opening week. Key matches include Seattle U at No. 4 Notre Dame on Aug. 25, Air Force at No. 15 Wake Forest on Aug. 28, and Utah Valley at No. 5 Oregon State and Seattle U at No. 8 Kentucky on Aug. 29.
PRESEASON WAC
Reigning tournament champion Seattle U was selected as the Western Athletic Conference's (WAC) favorite in the 2022 WAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll that was released on Wednesday.
The Redhawks received eight first-place votes and 80 voting points to enter the 2022 season as the conference favorite based on polling of all 10 men's soccer member head coaches. Last season's conference runner-up Grand Canyon received the remaining two first-place votes and placed second in the predicted order of finish with 68 points.
Grand Canyon senior forward Shaun Joash was selected as the 2022 WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Joash was an all-conference first-team choice and was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region Second Team in 2021 after scoring nine goals and tallying 22 points for the Lopes.
Air Force senior defender London Aghedo was the top vote-getter for 2022 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Aghedo was a first-team all-conference choice in each of the past two seasons with the Falcons and notched a goal and five assists over 17 starts in 2021.
California Baptist had three players named to the 2022 Preseason All-WAC Team to lead all member squads. Grand Canyon, Seattle U and Utah Valley each boasted two selections apiece, while Air Force and San Jose State were also represented on the preseason all-conference team.
LAST SEASON IN A NUTSHELL
Air Force concluded the 2021 season after a 4-3 loss to Seattle U in the semifinals of the WAC Tournament. It was Air Force's sixth-straight conference tournament appearance. The Falcons finished third in the league, and successfully defended the home pitch against all WAC opponents faced at home (6-0), highlighted by a season finale win against regular season champs, GCU. Air Force senior forward Tristan Trager was dubbed the WAC's Offensive Player of the Year, while six Falcons earned All-WAC honors. Trager, Jared Dove and London Aghedo won first-team honors, while Lathan Spadafora and goalie Kainoa Likewise won second-team nods. Freshman defender Kobey Stoup earned a spot on the All-Freshman team.
Senior forward Tristan Trager was dubbed the team's MVP. The 2021 Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, had a stellar career at Air Force
FALCONS MAKE WAC HISTORY IN BELATED 2020 SEASON
Air Force Falcons became the first sixth-seed to win the WAC Men's Soccer Tournament, knocking off the top three seeds en route to the title with a shootout win over third-seed San José State, a 2-0 win over second-seed UT Rio Grande Valley and a 3-0 win over top-seed Grand Canyon.
The Falcons turned a seemingly bleak season to a Cinderella run to be remembered after a 1-4-1 overall record in March took a 180-degree turn to become a winning season in the record books. The Falcons capped the regular-season on a three-game winning streak at 4-4-1, finishing seventh in the WAC.
With only the top-six teams being eligible for the tournament, Air Force's run appeared to come a day late and a dollar short; however, due to WAC post-season eligibility requirements, California Baptist who joined the WAC in 2018, was unable to participate in post-season play due to a probationary period for league newcomers. CBU finished fourth in the WAC. With the fifth and sixth spots moving up a rung, the Falcons filled the sixth spot and became the first-ever six-seed to win a WAC Tournament.
DEFEND THE TURF
The Falcons vehemently defend their home turf, going 40-8-2 (.818) 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.
TRAGER GOES PRO
Air Force graduate Tristan Trager was drafted by Atlanta United FC as the 19th pick of the second round of the MLS Super Draft '22. Trager, the 2021 WAC Offensive Player of the Year, is the third Falcon to be drafted since 2019 and 11th in program history. He is preceded by former teammates Tucker Bone and Austin Dewing who played together for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Bone currently plays for Sacramento Republic while Dewing flies for the U.S. Air Force.
Air Force at No. 24 North Carolina, Thursday, Aug. 25, 7:30 p.m. ET
Dorrance Field, Chapel Hill, NC
Air Force at No. 15 Wake Forest, Sunday, Aug. 28, 7 p.m. ET
Spry Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC
THE SERIES
The Falcons and Tar Heels are split 1-1 in the all-time series with Air Force winning the last meeting, 2-1, in the second round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament. The first meeting between the programs was in 1965 where Carolina bested Air Force, 4-0.
Air Force and Wake Forest will be meeting for the second time in program history. The Demon Deacons won the first meeting, one-nil, in Winston-Salem.
LEADING FROM THE FRONT
Senior defender and 2022 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year London Aghedo has been voted team captain by his peers. Aghedo is a three-time All-WAC selection, highlighted by first-team nods in his sophomore and junior campaigns.
WELCOME BACK
The Falcons welcome back six starters and 24 letterwinners from last season. Aghedo has started in every appearance he has made, clocking 4,164 career minutes played in 48 career appearances. He leads all returners with five assists last season. Junior forward Thaddaeus Dewing is the leading scorer to return, notching five goals and an assist last season. Luke Hill tallied three assists last season and has played in a team-high 51 career matches. In goal, coach Hill has a pair of upperclassmen options in John Byzewski and Jakob Stone.
THE HARD WAY
Air Force's 2022 competition schedule features seven 2021 NCAA Tournament qualifiers, highlighted by 2021 College Cup finalists Washington— marking the Falcons' toughest campaign to date.
"I am very excited about our competitive and challenging non-conference schedule this year," Doug Hill said. "It is without a doubt the toughest schedule we have played in the history of Air Force men's soccer."
The Falcons' regular season kicks off with a five-game road stint starting with a pair of ACC powerhouses in No. 24 North Carolina, August 25, and No. 15 Wake Forest, August 28. Air Force follows up with Missouri State (Sept. 2), Central Arkansas (Sept. 5), and will wrap up the early-season road campaign at Washington on September 11. Six AF opponents received nods in the United Soccer Coaches Preaseason Rankings— five of which will be played in the first six matches.
THE NEW GUYS
Falcon men's soccer welcomes 10 freshmen to the team ahead of the 2022 campaign.
Rohan Blackwell - Atlanta, Georgia | Lakeside HS | Atlanta United Academy
Rocco Deppe - Overland Park, Kansas | Rockhurst Jesuit | Kansas Rush Academy
Landon Liddle - Rome, Georgia | Darlington School | Darlington Soccer Academy
Shane Mendez - Cromwell, Connecticut | Xavier HS/South Kent Prep | New York Soccer Club
Michael Moravek - Bethesda, Maryland | Richard Montgomery HS | Bethesda Soccer Club
Ridge Owen - Chula Vista, California | East Lake HS | Albion NPL
Jon Probst - Chandler, Arizona | Perry HS | RSL AZ Phoenix/Real Salt Lake
Steve Rasizzi - Queens, New York | World Journalism Prep School | NYC FC
Sevastian Rodriguez - San Antonio, Texas | Central Catholic HS | Classics Elite ENCL
Josh Spence - Burlington, Kentucky | Randall K. Cooper HS| Kings Hammer Academy
THE POSTSEASON IS THE GOAL
The WAC is looking to send at least one at-large selection to the NCAA DI Men's Soccer Championship for the first time since 2018. The league has boasted multiple NCAA tournament qualifiers on six different occasions, with a high watermark of three teams making the field in 1998.
BUSY FIRST WEEK FOR THE WAC
WAC men's soccer members are scheduled to face eight foes who were either ranked or receiving votes in the season's initial United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll during opening week. Key matches include Seattle U at No. 4 Notre Dame on Aug. 25, Air Force at No. 15 Wake Forest on Aug. 28, and Utah Valley at No. 5 Oregon State and Seattle U at No. 8 Kentucky on Aug. 29.
PRESEASON WAC
Reigning tournament champion Seattle U was selected as the Western Athletic Conference's (WAC) favorite in the 2022 WAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll that was released on Wednesday.
The Redhawks received eight first-place votes and 80 voting points to enter the 2022 season as the conference favorite based on polling of all 10 men's soccer member head coaches. Last season's conference runner-up Grand Canyon received the remaining two first-place votes and placed second in the predicted order of finish with 68 points.
Grand Canyon senior forward Shaun Joash was selected as the 2022 WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Joash was an all-conference first-team choice and was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region Second Team in 2021 after scoring nine goals and tallying 22 points for the Lopes.
Air Force senior defender London Aghedo was the top vote-getter for 2022 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Aghedo was a first-team all-conference choice in each of the past two seasons with the Falcons and notched a goal and five assists over 17 starts in 2021.
California Baptist had three players named to the 2022 Preseason All-WAC Team to lead all member squads. Grand Canyon, Seattle U and Utah Valley each boasted two selections apiece, while Air Force and San Jose State were also represented on the preseason all-conference team.
LAST SEASON IN A NUTSHELL
Air Force concluded the 2021 season after a 4-3 loss to Seattle U in the semifinals of the WAC Tournament. It was Air Force's sixth-straight conference tournament appearance. The Falcons finished third in the league, and successfully defended the home pitch against all WAC opponents faced at home (6-0), highlighted by a season finale win against regular season champs, GCU. Air Force senior forward Tristan Trager was dubbed the WAC's Offensive Player of the Year, while six Falcons earned All-WAC honors. Trager, Jared Dove and London Aghedo won first-team honors, while Lathan Spadafora and goalie Kainoa Likewise won second-team nods. Freshman defender Kobey Stoup earned a spot on the All-Freshman team.
Senior forward Tristan Trager was dubbed the team's MVP. The 2021 Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, had a stellar career at Air Force
FALCONS MAKE WAC HISTORY IN BELATED 2020 SEASON
Air Force Falcons became the first sixth-seed to win the WAC Men's Soccer Tournament, knocking off the top three seeds en route to the title with a shootout win over third-seed San José State, a 2-0 win over second-seed UT Rio Grande Valley and a 3-0 win over top-seed Grand Canyon.
The Falcons turned a seemingly bleak season to a Cinderella run to be remembered after a 1-4-1 overall record in March took a 180-degree turn to become a winning season in the record books. The Falcons capped the regular-season on a three-game winning streak at 4-4-1, finishing seventh in the WAC.
With only the top-six teams being eligible for the tournament, Air Force's run appeared to come a day late and a dollar short; however, due to WAC post-season eligibility requirements, California Baptist who joined the WAC in 2018, was unable to participate in post-season play due to a probationary period for league newcomers. CBU finished fourth in the WAC. With the fifth and sixth spots moving up a rung, the Falcons filled the sixth spot and became the first-ever six-seed to win a WAC Tournament.
DEFEND THE TURF
The Falcons vehemently defend their home turf, going 40-8-2 (.818) 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.
TRAGER GOES PRO
Air Force graduate Tristan Trager was drafted by Atlanta United FC as the 19th pick of the second round of the MLS Super Draft '22. Trager, the 2021 WAC Offensive Player of the Year, is the third Falcon to be drafted since 2019 and 11th in program history. He is preceded by former teammates Tucker Bone and Austin Dewing who played together for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Bone currently plays for Sacramento Republic while Dewing flies for the U.S. Air Force.
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