Wednesday, April 17
USAFA, CO
12:00 PM MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Mercer
Air Force Lacrosse Hosts Mercer in Midweek Showdown
4/16/2024 1:30:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
AIR FORCE (7-4, 6-0 ASUN) vs. MERCER (2-9, 1-5 ASUN)
12 p.m. MT, Wednesday, April 17
Falcon Stadium, USAF Academy, Colo.
The Falcons welcome Mercer to the Academy for a midweek matchup, Wednesday (April 17). Action is slated for noon MT at Falcon Stadium. Air Force is on a two-game winning streak against the Bears but looks to redeem its last meeting at Falcon Stadium where Mercer outscored AF, 15-13.
THE SERIES
Air Force and Mercer are playing for the 13th time in program history with AF leading the series, 10-2. Mercer's only two wins against the Falcons both happened at USAFA.
LAST TIME THEY PLAYED
The Falcons put up a 14-8 win over Mercer at Five Star Stadium in Macon, Georgia. Wes Peene scored three goals in the effort while Calean Driggs, Aidan Tolen, and Alexander Stepney combined for four goals. Josh Yago dished two assists.
MAREK WINS DFENSIVE POTW
Air Force junior Jake Marek was tabbed ASUN Defensive Player of the Week following a stellar performance in goal at Detroit Mercy. Marek allowed just one goal and made 11 saves in 45 minutes of action. In three shows in goal, Marek has allowed just nine goals and has a 5.04 GAA and .667 save percentage. Marek is the first Player of the Week honoree for AF this season.
AIR FORCE NOTABLES
-Air Force is on a 6-0 conference start, marking the best league start since going undefeated in the Southern Conference in 2016.
-The Falcons lead the ASUN in caused turnovers per game (8.91) and opponent clearing percentage (.808) and are second in the ASUN in ground balls per game (30.73) and scoring defense (9.45).
-Sophomore Caelan Driggs leads Air Force in goals (27) and has points (32) so far this season. He has three hat tricks (4g, 4g, 5g), and had a five-goal performance against Lindenwood. He has scored a point in every game this season and a goal in 10-of-11 appearances. He is third in the ASUN in goals per game (2.45) and second in the league in shot percentage (.409).
-Junior Josh Yago leads the team in assists (22) and points (38). He leads the ASUN in assists per game (2.00); a mark that ranks him 30th in the NCAA. Yago has scored a point in every game this season and put up a goal in nine games. He had a career day against Cleveland State, scoring seven points by way of four goals and three assists.
-Freshman Turner Ashby was named to the Inside Lacrosse Top-25 Midseason Freshman Impact list. Ashby has a pair of hat tricks this season with 18 goals in his inaugural campaign. He has scored in all but one game of the season and is third on the team with 30 points (18g, 10a).
-The Air Force defense is led by co-team captains Chris Bardak and James Chastain. The duo combines for 25 caused turnovers— Bardak with 15, Chastain with 10. Bardak has 36 ground balls, the most by any non-face off Falcon.
-At center X, Jake Knapp takes the lion's share of face off attempts. He has a .481 win-percentage on the season and a season-best 17 face off wins against Queens. He is fourth in the ASUN in ground balls per game (4.45) and fifth in the league in face off win percentage.
FIGHTIN' FRESHMEN
AF freshmen Turner Ashby, Jake Mason, Mana Wilhelm, and Blaze DeGracie combine for 28 goals and 16 assists. Ashby was named to the Inside Lacrosse Top-25 Midseason Freshman Impact list this week and has started in all 10 games this season.
LAST TIME OUT
Air Force rolled its momentum into Saturday with a commanding 14-3 win over Detroit Mercy in ASUN Conference action at Titan Field. Senior midfielder and co-team captain Aidan Tolen posted a season best five goals on five shots, upping his season goal tally to 14. In his second career start in goal, Jake Marek played lights out to earn his second win in as many tries this season. Marek made a career-best 11 saves with just one goal allowed in 45 minutes of action.
COMING UP
The Falcons take on conference heavyweight Jacksonville for Senior Day, Saturday (Apr. 20), at Falcon Stadium. The Falcons and Dolphins are on a collision course to claim the regular season ASUN title and top seed in the ASUN Conference Tournament. Prior to the game, Air Force will honor its 11 seniors in Isaac Abramovitz, Chris Bardak, James Chastain, Sam Ewing, Braden Gaab, Robbie Lionetti, Cooper Rich, Will Stax, Quinn Richards, Jack Stewart (undergrad coach), and Aidan Tolen.
12 p.m. MT, Wednesday, April 17
Falcon Stadium, USAF Academy, Colo.
The Falcons welcome Mercer to the Academy for a midweek matchup, Wednesday (April 17). Action is slated for noon MT at Falcon Stadium. Air Force is on a two-game winning streak against the Bears but looks to redeem its last meeting at Falcon Stadium where Mercer outscored AF, 15-13.
THE SERIES
Air Force and Mercer are playing for the 13th time in program history with AF leading the series, 10-2. Mercer's only two wins against the Falcons both happened at USAFA.
LAST TIME THEY PLAYED
The Falcons put up a 14-8 win over Mercer at Five Star Stadium in Macon, Georgia. Wes Peene scored three goals in the effort while Calean Driggs, Aidan Tolen, and Alexander Stepney combined for four goals. Josh Yago dished two assists.
MAREK WINS DFENSIVE POTW
Air Force junior Jake Marek was tabbed ASUN Defensive Player of the Week following a stellar performance in goal at Detroit Mercy. Marek allowed just one goal and made 11 saves in 45 minutes of action. In three shows in goal, Marek has allowed just nine goals and has a 5.04 GAA and .667 save percentage. Marek is the first Player of the Week honoree for AF this season.
AIR FORCE NOTABLES
-Air Force is on a 6-0 conference start, marking the best league start since going undefeated in the Southern Conference in 2016.
-The Falcons lead the ASUN in caused turnovers per game (8.91) and opponent clearing percentage (.808) and are second in the ASUN in ground balls per game (30.73) and scoring defense (9.45).
-Sophomore Caelan Driggs leads Air Force in goals (27) and has points (32) so far this season. He has three hat tricks (4g, 4g, 5g), and had a five-goal performance against Lindenwood. He has scored a point in every game this season and a goal in 10-of-11 appearances. He is third in the ASUN in goals per game (2.45) and second in the league in shot percentage (.409).
-Junior Josh Yago leads the team in assists (22) and points (38). He leads the ASUN in assists per game (2.00); a mark that ranks him 30th in the NCAA. Yago has scored a point in every game this season and put up a goal in nine games. He had a career day against Cleveland State, scoring seven points by way of four goals and three assists.
-Freshman Turner Ashby was named to the Inside Lacrosse Top-25 Midseason Freshman Impact list. Ashby has a pair of hat tricks this season with 18 goals in his inaugural campaign. He has scored in all but one game of the season and is third on the team with 30 points (18g, 10a).
-The Air Force defense is led by co-team captains Chris Bardak and James Chastain. The duo combines for 25 caused turnovers— Bardak with 15, Chastain with 10. Bardak has 36 ground balls, the most by any non-face off Falcon.
-At center X, Jake Knapp takes the lion's share of face off attempts. He has a .481 win-percentage on the season and a season-best 17 face off wins against Queens. He is fourth in the ASUN in ground balls per game (4.45) and fifth in the league in face off win percentage.
FIGHTIN' FRESHMEN
AF freshmen Turner Ashby, Jake Mason, Mana Wilhelm, and Blaze DeGracie combine for 28 goals and 16 assists. Ashby was named to the Inside Lacrosse Top-25 Midseason Freshman Impact list this week and has started in all 10 games this season.
LAST TIME OUT
Air Force rolled its momentum into Saturday with a commanding 14-3 win over Detroit Mercy in ASUN Conference action at Titan Field. Senior midfielder and co-team captain Aidan Tolen posted a season best five goals on five shots, upping his season goal tally to 14. In his second career start in goal, Jake Marek played lights out to earn his second win in as many tries this season. Marek made a career-best 11 saves with just one goal allowed in 45 minutes of action.
COMING UP
The Falcons take on conference heavyweight Jacksonville for Senior Day, Saturday (Apr. 20), at Falcon Stadium. The Falcons and Dolphins are on a collision course to claim the regular season ASUN title and top seed in the ASUN Conference Tournament. Prior to the game, Air Force will honor its 11 seniors in Isaac Abramovitz, Chris Bardak, James Chastain, Sam Ewing, Braden Gaab, Robbie Lionetti, Cooper Rich, Will Stax, Quinn Richards, Jack Stewart (undergrad coach), and Aidan Tolen.
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
SSDM
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
FO/M
/ Men's Lacrosse
FO/M
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
GK
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
GK
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
SSDM
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
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