Air Force Comes up Short in Season Opener, 3-2

WEST POINT – Army was on the only one to score in the second half, lifting the Black Knights to a 3-2 win in the 2023 season opener, Thursday evening, at Clinton Field. Army redeems the loss from the last meeting between the teams in 2019.

Senior team captain Luke Hill struck first in the 17^th minute via a free kick on a foul committed just outside of the penalty zone. Hill lined up from 24-yards straight out and bent a brilliant ball past the line of defenders and into the far-right side of the cage, just outside the reach of the Army keeper in full dive.

The Black Knight's Jubril Bamgbala scored the equalizer at the 27^th minute via a set piece from off the corner of the penalty box.

Air Force, unbothered by the goal, pressed their offense into Army's side of the pitch. In the 38^th minute, Remi Smith took the ball from midfield and toed it to Thaddaeus Dewing who quickly redirected it to Hill attacking from the left side. Hill finished into the left side of the goal to regain the lead.

Army's Joey Hickson notched the equalizer two minutes later to keep the Black Knights in the fight. The teams entered the halftime locker room knotted at two goals. Army took nearly three times as many shots, 8-3, with four shots on goal to AF's two shots on goal.

The Black Knight's took their first lead of the night in the 58^th minute with a strike from Drew Clement to the upper-left 90. The Falcons battled vigorously for the remaining 32 minutes but were ultimately unable to score an equalizer.

At the final horn, Army took 13 shots to the Falcons' six. Senior AF goalie Jakob Stone recorded four saves on the match. It proved to be a chippy match between the rivals as 42 fouls were committed between the two teams.

The Falcons return to action on Sunday as they head to South Orange, New Jersey, to take on Seton Hall. Action at Owen T. Carroll Field kicks off at 7 p.m. ET.

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.