Friday, September 20
USAFA, CO
6:00 PM MT
Air Force Academy
vs
UC-Riverside
Men's Soccer Hosts UC Riverside on Friday
9/19/2024 12:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
GAME 07
Air Force (0-5-1) vs UC Riverside (1-4-0)
6 p.m. MT, Friday, September 20
Cadet Soccer Stadium, USAF Academy, Colo.
Air Force returns to the Academy to host UC Riverside on Friday, September 20. Action at Cadet Soccer Stadium is set for 6 p.m. MT. A live stream will be available for the match on the ESPN+ platform.
THE SERIES
The Falcons and Highlanders are meeting for the fifth time with the series tied at 2-2. Every match so far has been decided by a one-goal difference. AF won the first meeting in 2001, 1-0, while UCR won the second meeting in 2010, 1-0. Most recently the Falcons lost at Riverside, 2-1, in 2019. The last time the teams played at Cadet Soccer Stadium was in 2016, Air Force bested UC Riverside in overtime, 2-1.
A GLANCE AT THE HIGHLANDERS
UCR has tallied five goals this season, led by Luka Lukic and Noah Lopez with two apiece. Lukic leads the team in points (3) and shots (15/7). Jackson D'Alessandro accounts for the other goal. In goal, Carlos Gonzalez has taken every minute this season. He has a .567 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA. UCR's one win this season came against Loyola Marymount, 2-1, in L.A.
UP NEXT
The Falcons hit the road to take on Mercer in Macon, Georgia, for Air Force's only match for the week, Saturday (Sept. 28). Action at Betts Stadium is slated for a 7 p.m. ET start. The match will mark the first-ever meeting between the programs.
LAST TIME OUT
The Tritons of UC San Diego outscored Air Force, 3-0, Sunday evening at Triton Soccer Stadium.
THE OFFENSE
Four Falcons account for four AF goals this season: Nick Bisagno, Logan Zaa, Ridge Owen, and Bradley Poppell. Bisagno leads the squad with three points via goal and an assist. Senior team captain Carter Rizzo leads the squad in shots with five total, four on goal.
IN GOAL
Air Force has two goalies with starting experience this season. Sophomore Will Collins started the first and last matches this season, holding a .750 save percentage and making 18 saves for a 1.99 GAA. Freshman Brody Smith filled in for three matches during a brief injury break for Collins. Smith made 14 saves in three games, holding a .636 save percentage on a 2.69 GAA. Smith has a season-best 10 saves in the match against Washington. Both goalies are active for this Friday.
AROUND THE WAC
UTAH VALLEY EXTENDS UNBEATEN STREAK TO OPEN 2024
Utah Valley remained the only WAC men's soccer member with an unbeaten record in non-conference play following matches on Sept. 16. The Wolverines earned two results last week to improve to 5-0-2 (.857). UTRGV (2-1-1, .625) was the only WAC member with just one defeat on its record after four weeks of non-conference action.
UVU'S YEHYA, GCU'S NUTORNUTSI IN SPIRITED BATTLE FOR WAC GOALS LEAD
Utah Valley midfielder Omar Yehya and Grand Canyon forward Bright Nutornutsi have battled for the WAC goals lead over the first four weeks of non-conference matches, turning in sensational performances for their sides. Yehya entered play on Sept. 18 as the conference leader with seven goals and 16 points over his first seven matches played, tallying at least one point in every contest thus far in 2024 to tie for fifth nationally in goals scored. Yehya has scored five combined goals in his past three matches, which included multi-goal performances at Florida Gulf Coast on Sept. 8 and against Lindenwood on Sept. 16. Nutornutsi opened the season with back-to-back two-goal outings against Western Illinois and Duke to place second in the WAC with five goals and 11 points.
UNLV LEVELS RECORD WITH BACK-TO-BACK CLEAN SHEETS
UNLV climbed back to .500 in non-conference play at 3-3 with consecutive shutout victories last week. The Rebels blanked CSU Bakersfield 1-0 on the road on Sept. 11 before shutting out CSUN by a 1-0 match score on Sept. 15 in Las Vegas. UNLV was the only team in the WAC yet to record a draw this season as of Sept. 18.
SHORT REMAINS BUSY IN GOAL FOR UTAH TECH
Utah Tech goalkeeper Stockton Short led NCAA Division I men's soccer with a 6.29 saves per match average as of the latest NCAA national statistics report on Sept. 17. Short was officially credited with 44 saves over his first seven starts, and checked in fifth in the WAC with a .759 save percentage.
SEATTLE U GETS ITS CHANCE WITH TOP-RANKED DENVER
Seattle U is set for a key non-conference clash at Denver on Sept. 22, with the Pioneers checking in third in the latest United Soccer Coaches and first in the latest Top Drawer Soccer NCAA DI men's soccer polls. Other ranked matches on the upcoming WAC schedule include No. 22 UC Santa Barbara at Utah Valley and Grand Canyon at No. 15 San Diego on Sept. 19.
Air Force (0-5-1) vs UC Riverside (1-4-0)
6 p.m. MT, Friday, September 20
Cadet Soccer Stadium, USAF Academy, Colo.
Air Force returns to the Academy to host UC Riverside on Friday, September 20. Action at Cadet Soccer Stadium is set for 6 p.m. MT. A live stream will be available for the match on the ESPN+ platform.
THE SERIES
The Falcons and Highlanders are meeting for the fifth time with the series tied at 2-2. Every match so far has been decided by a one-goal difference. AF won the first meeting in 2001, 1-0, while UCR won the second meeting in 2010, 1-0. Most recently the Falcons lost at Riverside, 2-1, in 2019. The last time the teams played at Cadet Soccer Stadium was in 2016, Air Force bested UC Riverside in overtime, 2-1.
A GLANCE AT THE HIGHLANDERS
UCR has tallied five goals this season, led by Luka Lukic and Noah Lopez with two apiece. Lukic leads the team in points (3) and shots (15/7). Jackson D'Alessandro accounts for the other goal. In goal, Carlos Gonzalez has taken every minute this season. He has a .567 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA. UCR's one win this season came against Loyola Marymount, 2-1, in L.A.
UP NEXT
The Falcons hit the road to take on Mercer in Macon, Georgia, for Air Force's only match for the week, Saturday (Sept. 28). Action at Betts Stadium is slated for a 7 p.m. ET start. The match will mark the first-ever meeting between the programs.
LAST TIME OUT
The Tritons of UC San Diego outscored Air Force, 3-0, Sunday evening at Triton Soccer Stadium.
THE OFFENSE
Four Falcons account for four AF goals this season: Nick Bisagno, Logan Zaa, Ridge Owen, and Bradley Poppell. Bisagno leads the squad with three points via goal and an assist. Senior team captain Carter Rizzo leads the squad in shots with five total, four on goal.
IN GOAL
Air Force has two goalies with starting experience this season. Sophomore Will Collins started the first and last matches this season, holding a .750 save percentage and making 18 saves for a 1.99 GAA. Freshman Brody Smith filled in for three matches during a brief injury break for Collins. Smith made 14 saves in three games, holding a .636 save percentage on a 2.69 GAA. Smith has a season-best 10 saves in the match against Washington. Both goalies are active for this Friday.
AROUND THE WAC
UTAH VALLEY EXTENDS UNBEATEN STREAK TO OPEN 2024
Utah Valley remained the only WAC men's soccer member with an unbeaten record in non-conference play following matches on Sept. 16. The Wolverines earned two results last week to improve to 5-0-2 (.857). UTRGV (2-1-1, .625) was the only WAC member with just one defeat on its record after four weeks of non-conference action.
UVU'S YEHYA, GCU'S NUTORNUTSI IN SPIRITED BATTLE FOR WAC GOALS LEAD
Utah Valley midfielder Omar Yehya and Grand Canyon forward Bright Nutornutsi have battled for the WAC goals lead over the first four weeks of non-conference matches, turning in sensational performances for their sides. Yehya entered play on Sept. 18 as the conference leader with seven goals and 16 points over his first seven matches played, tallying at least one point in every contest thus far in 2024 to tie for fifth nationally in goals scored. Yehya has scored five combined goals in his past three matches, which included multi-goal performances at Florida Gulf Coast on Sept. 8 and against Lindenwood on Sept. 16. Nutornutsi opened the season with back-to-back two-goal outings against Western Illinois and Duke to place second in the WAC with five goals and 11 points.
UNLV LEVELS RECORD WITH BACK-TO-BACK CLEAN SHEETS
UNLV climbed back to .500 in non-conference play at 3-3 with consecutive shutout victories last week. The Rebels blanked CSU Bakersfield 1-0 on the road on Sept. 11 before shutting out CSUN by a 1-0 match score on Sept. 15 in Las Vegas. UNLV was the only team in the WAC yet to record a draw this season as of Sept. 18.
SHORT REMAINS BUSY IN GOAL FOR UTAH TECH
Utah Tech goalkeeper Stockton Short led NCAA Division I men's soccer with a 6.29 saves per match average as of the latest NCAA national statistics report on Sept. 17. Short was officially credited with 44 saves over his first seven starts, and checked in fifth in the WAC with a .759 save percentage.
SEATTLE U GETS ITS CHANCE WITH TOP-RANKED DENVER
Seattle U is set for a key non-conference clash at Denver on Sept. 22, with the Pioneers checking in third in the latest United Soccer Coaches and first in the latest Top Drawer Soccer NCAA DI men's soccer polls. Other ranked matches on the upcoming WAC schedule include No. 22 UC Santa Barbara at Utah Valley and Grand Canyon at No. 15 San Diego on Sept. 19.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's SoccerPathways: An Air Force Men's Soccer Alumni Story
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