Air Force Closes 2024 Campaign with 15-10 Loss to Jacksonville in ASUN Semifinals

USAF ACADEMY – Air Force fell to Jacksonville, 15-10, in the ASUN Conference semifinals, Friday afternoon, at Falcon Stadium. The Falcons conclude the 2024 campaign with a 9-6 overall record and an 8-1 league record with a share of the conference regular season title.

Sophomore attack man Caelan Driggs led the Air Force offensive with four goals; it was his 33^rd goal and fourth hat trick of the season, the most goals and hat tricks by any Falcon in 2024. Driggs also finished with a pair of caused turnovers.

ASUN Freshman of the Year Turner Ashby concluded with two goals on five shots. Ashby finalized his freshman campaign with 29 goals for the second-most on the team and the most by any ASUN freshman this year. Junior attacker and All-ASUN first team selection Josh Yago finished with a goal and an assist. Yago's 30 assists this year is the second most single season assists in the AF record book. Yago closed his junior campaign with 54 points.

Air Force junior Jake Marek was impressive in goal, making 11 saves in the effort. Marek made six starts this season and went 4-2 while minding the Falcons' cage. Senior co team captain and All-ASUN first-teamer Chris Bardak was a linchpin defender, picking up four balls and facilitating the Air Force transition.

The Falcons started semifinals action with a gut check as Jacksonville rattled off three straight goals in the opening two minutes. Senior co-team captain Aidan Tolen put an end to the run with an unassisted attack at 8:06. JU responded with two more goals to build a 5-1 lead with 5:02 remaining in the first quarter. Ashby put up his first goal in an unassisted strike at 1:07. JU was quick to respond with a goal with just five seconds remaining in the quarter, giving the Dolphins a 6-2 lead heading into the second quarter.

Air Force found a bit of rhythm in the second and third quarters, outscoring the Dolphins, 3-2 and 4-2, respectively. Driggs was good for two second quarter goals while freshman Mana Wilhelm put up a goal for his seventh of his freshman season. Driggs scored his last two in the third quarter while freshman Charlie Pyfer notched his first collegiate goal eight seconds after. After a strike from Jacksonville, Ashby responded with his second goal via Yago's assist to knot the game at 9-9. JU scored a goal in the waning minutes of the third quarter to take a 10-9 lead heading into the final 15 minutes.

The Dolphins took command in the fourth quarter, scoring five unanswered goals from 13:40 to 1:10. Yago was the last to strike with just under a minute remaining.

At the final horn, JU took 43 shots to AF's 37, and won the ground ball battle, 32-38. At center X, Jake Knapp won 10-28 attempts (.357). Jacksonville closed the game with two hat trick performances from Nicky Brown and Jacob Greiner.

Third-seed Jacksonville will take on defending champions No. 1 seed Utah in the ASUN Championship, Sunday morning (May 5), at Falcon Stadium. Action is slated for 11 a.m. MT.

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