Men's Soccer Hosts Utah Tech Thursday

GAME 14
Air Force (1-10-1, 1-3-0) vs. Utah Tech (2-8-4, 1-3-2)
6 p.m. MT, Thursday, Oct. 24
Cadet Soccer Stadium, USAF Academy, Colo.

THE SERIES
Air Force and Utah Tech are meeting for the fifth time since the Trailblazers joined Division I soccer in 2021. The Falcons hold a 3-1 series advantage.

Prior to last season's 3-2 loss to Utah Tech in St. George, Utah, the Falcons held the Trailblazers scoreless in the first three meetings. In four games, the AF has put up 11 goals to UT's three. Utah Tech has only been to USAFA once (2021), where they fell, 2-0.

UP NEXT
Air Force welcomes long-time men's soccer rival UNLV to the Academy for a Sunday afternoon matchup. Action at Cadet Soccer Stadium is slated for a 3 p.m. MT start. Sunday's match will serve as Senior Day for the Falcons' class of 2025. AF will celebrate the collegiate careers of Ben Wunsch, Carter Rizzo, Joey Betts, Nick Bisagno, Kobey Stoup, Noah Reznik, and Andrew Durkin.

AROUND THE WAC
SAN DIEGO STATE RUNS WINNING STREAK TO FIVE, TAKES OVER TOP SPOT IN THE WAC STANDINGS
On the strength of five consecutive wins in conference play, San Diego State has climbed to the top of the WAC table with 15 points and a 5-0 league record. The Aztecs could officially punch their ticket to the 2024 WAC Men's Soccer Tournament later this week. Seattle U remained on pace with San Diego State in second place with a 4-1-1 WAC record and 13 points.

UTAH VALLEY KEEPS AIR FORCE OFF THE SCOREBOARD IN ROAD CONFERENCE MATCH
During a 2-0 win for Utah Valley at Air Force on Oct. 20, the Wolverines not only earned the clean sheet but also prevented any of the six shot attempts from the Falcons from being credited on goal. The shutout marked the third time in conference play this season that a team was held without an official shot on frame in a shutout.

UNLV EXTENDS IMPRESSIVE SHUTOUT STREAK TO THREE MATCHES
Unbeaten in its last five matches (1-0-4) in conference play, UNLV has climbed into a tie for fourth place in the WAC standings with seven points. Keying the Rebels surge has been over 330 minutes of shutout soccer dating back to the first half of a 1-1 draw at Seattle U on Oct. 10. Goalkeeper Hugo Lemos has turned in 11 total saves over three straight shutouts to move into a tie for the WAC lead with five clean sheets thus far this season.

SDSU STILL SETTING THE PACE AS THE TOP RANKED WAC TEAM IN LATEST NCAA RPI
As of the latest NCAA RPI update on Oct. 22, San Diego State remained the top team from the WAC by leaping forward with an adjusted RPI ranking of 37. Other top 100 WAC teams in the more recent NCAA RPI were Seattle U (65) and UNLV (99).

WAC TOURNAMENT IMPLICATIONS THIS WEEKEND
San Diego State may not only lock up a WAC Men's Soccer Tournament berth based on results this weekend, but the Aztecs can also clinch a share of the regular-season conference title with wins at UTRGV on Oct. 24 and at Grand Canyon on Oct. 27 and a non-Seattle U win at San José State on Oct. 26. Seattle U also has an outside chance of locking up a tournament slot by the end of the weekend with a road win and other results from around the conference.

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Valley outscored Air Force, 2-0, Sunday afternoon (Oct. 20) in Western Athletic Conference play. The Wolverines (6-5-3, 1-3-1 WAC) tallied their first league win this season.

Air Force attempted six shots on the match but none to challenge UVU keeper Ben Williams who took the win the zero saves. Utah Valley was led by two-time WAC Player of the Week Omar Yehya's six shots and an early goal (7'). Yehya's goal was assisted by Gilles Aurelian and Trevor Walk.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Joey Betts

Nick Bisagno

Andrew Durkin

Noah Reznik

Carter Rizzo

Kobey Stoup

Ben Wunsch

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