Utah Outscores Air Force in ASUN Contest, 18-11

USAF ACADEMY – Air Force dropped an 18-11 contest to ASUN rivals Utah, Wednesday afternoon at the Air Force Academy. The Falcons, taking their first lost at home, drop to 6-4 overall with a 3-1 mark in league play.

The Falcons got off to a hot two goal lead but ultimately tripped up in the first quarter, allowing five-straight Utah goals in four and a half minutes. The Falcons gained traction between the second and third quarters, bringing the deficit to just one goal with 10:43 remaining in the third quarter.

The chance to assume the lead slipped from the Falcons' clutches as Utah went on another scoring streak, this time for four goals to rebuild the lead to 14-9 heading into the fourth quarter. The Utes kept up the pressure and popped off four more goals to give them an 18-10 lead at one minute remaining where the Falcons put up the final goal of the game.

Air Force's offense was led by Ethan Grandolfo and Brandon Dodd who accounted for 10 points between the two of them. Grandolfo scored four goals with one assist, marking his sixth hat trick this season. Dood was good for four assists and a goal, marking a season-high assist number for the ASUN's leading scorer. Dodd has had a goal in all nine of his appearances and tied 2007 grad Will Meister for fifth in the program record book with 139 career points.

Senior co-team captain Tommy Hellman made a pair of stellar plays for two goals, including one shot from nearly 70-yards across the field into a vacated cage. Hellman's two goals marked a career-best performance for the senior.

Josh Yago, Aidan Tolen, Maxwell Kane and Hunter Panzik rounded out the scoring for AF with one goal each. Grandolfo and Gavin Peene were the only other Falcons to be credited with an assist.

Defensive long-pole Chris Bardak had a stellar game, with two caused turnovers and nine ground balls. Prior to jumping in as the face off man, Air Force won just 4-of-14 attempts. Under Bardak's command of the center dot, he won 10-of-15 attempts to get the Falcons back into the fight. Air Force caused nine of Utah's 17 turnovers.

The Falcons' man-down defense had a solid day, killing five-of-six extra man opportunities. At the final whistle, Utah out shot Air Force, 54-49, and scooped up 10 more ground balls than AF (38-28).

Next up, the Falcons hit the road for Cleveland for the first of a two-game road stint. The Falcons and Cleveland State Vikings are slated to play at noon ET, Saturday, April 1.

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