Air Force Falls at Lafayette in Season Opener, 11-8

EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette rallied from behind to take down Air Force in the 2025 season opener, 11-8, Saturday afternoon at Fisher Stadium. A lackluster second half for the Falcons proved to be the difference in the game as AF scored just two goals in the second thirty minutes.

2024 Air Force goals leader Caelan Driggs got the Falcons off to a hot start just 50 seconds into the game via assist from Jake Mason. AF extended to a 4-2 lead by the end of the first quarter with a pair of goals from freshman Alex Rismani and goal from Mana Wilhelm who assisted Rismani in his first collegiate goal. Team captain Josh Yago, who put up three points on the day (1g, 2a), assisted Rismani in the third goal.

Junior midfielder Cole Rassas lit it up for Air Force in the second quarter, notching two straight goals within a span of 64 seconds to give the Falcons their largest lead of the game, 6-3. Wes Peene and Yago assisted Rassas in the strikes. The Falcons entered the locker room at the half leading 6-4.

The second half was played to a different tune as Lafayette outscore Air Force, 7-2. The Leopards Nicholas Blalock notched a goal just seven seconds after the second half faceoff. Yago responded with his first goal of the season via assist from Luke Vrsansky. Air Force went quiet in scoring until the final 1:51 of regulation where Peene connected with Rassas again for his hat trick goal. Meanwhile, the Leopards' Joseph Duggan and Riley Sullivan tallied hat tricks to propel Lafayette ahead of the Falcons.

At the final whistle, Lafayette had the advantage in shots, 31-28, and ground balls, 36-31. Rassas and Yago led the team with seven and six shots, respectively. Six of Rassas' seven shots were taken on goal. At the center dot, senior Daniel Haimes went. 500 (11-22) with a team high five ground balls collected. Jake Knapp, last season's leading faceoff man, went 1-1.

Senior goalie Jake Marek made 10 saves in his season debut while his counterpart Joe Doherty made 11 saves to secure the win.

Next up, Air Force opens Falcon Stadium for the first time this year to welcome in-state rival Denver Pioneers to a Saturday afternoon matchup. Action is scheduled for 12 pm MST.

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