Air Force Caps Regular Season with 14-11 win at Robert Morris

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Air Force brought the 2024 regular season campaign to a close with a 14-11 win against ASUN rival Robert Morris, Saturday afternoon, at Joe Walton Stadium. The Falcons (9-5, 8-1 ASUN) finish among the top teams in the league with just one loss on the conference slate for the second-straight season.

Air Force rallied from an early deficit to put up a season high eight goals in the third quarter. Junior attacker Josh Yago led the Falcons with five goals, equaling his career high scoring mark from last season. Yago's 53 points this season ties him for fourth in the single season record book with AF notables Mike Crampton (2013), Trey Lervick (2019) and Brenden Crouse (2022), while his 29 assists tie for second with AF star Chris Walsch (2016). Freshman teammate and attack man Turner Ashby scored a career best four goals in his third hat trick performance this season.

Robert Morris put the Falcons on their heels early, scoring just 64 seconds into the game and adding a second goal within the first two minutes. Ashby was the first to light the scoreboard for AF via feed from sophomore middie Hunter Panzik, marking the Falcons' only goal of the quarter.

Yago was quick to get active in the second quarter, scoring his 20^th goal of the season at the 14:00 mark to tie the Colonials. RMU responded with a goal four minutes later to claim their last lead of the game. A mere 41 seconds after the Robert Morris goal, Yago notched his second goal to tie the game, followed up by team captain Aidan Tolen's goal to assume the lead. Eric Swaggerty of RMU tied the game for the last time in an unassisted attack, only to be matched by sophomore Falcon Luke Vrsansky's strike with two minutes left in the half.

Air Force came out of the halftime locker room swinging as Ashby, Calan Driggs, and Yago rattled off the straight goals in the opening five minutes. Freshman standout Mana Wilhelm assisted Ashby in his goal. RMU responded with a pair of goals to cut the lead to 8-6. Going back-and-forth, Aidan Tolen scored his second goal, matched by Elliot Holden's first goal with 4:51 remaining in the third quarter. Yago, Ashby, and Wilhelm combined for four goals to close the quarter with a 13-7 lead. Ashby, Jake Knapp, and Wes Peene tallied assists in the quarter.

Robert Morris had their way in the fourth quarter, outscoring Air Force, 4-1. The effort was too little too late as the Falcons held RMU off until the final horn. Ashby scored his fourth goal, 26^th this season, at the 3:12 mark.

Falcon keeper Jake Marek earned his fourth win in five starts making 11 saves on the day. Junior face off man Jake Knapp was superb at the center X, winning 16 face offs in 28 attempts. He picked up a game high seven ground balls. Defensive teammates Chris Bardak and Daniel Enoch had standout performances, picking up five and four ground balls, respectively, while combining for three caused turnovers.

The Falcons enter post-season action at the ASUN Conference tournament, beginning April 30, at the Air Force Academy.

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