Air Force Comes up Short Against Marquette, 9-8

CHICAGO, Ill. – A stale fourth quarter left Air Force short of victory against Marquette, 9-8, Saturday afternoon at the Loyola Academy in North Chicago. The Falcons close the 2025 non-conference slate at 2-6 while the Golden Eagles improved to 5-3 in their second straight win over ASUN opponents.

Significant Stats
-Five Falcons accounted for the eight goals, led by Josh Yago, Cole Rassas, and Wes Peene with two apiece
-Yago's four-point game upped his season point count to 35 for the most on the team (18g, 17a)
-Calean Driggs' goal marked his 25^th this season for the most on the team, he has scored in every game this season
-AF caused 11 of Marquette's 19 turnovers led by GK Jake Marek's three CTOs
-The fourth quarter marked AF's first scoreless quarter of the season
-AF struggled to collect ground balls, scooping up 18 to MU's 28

Game Notes
-Marquette improved to 4-1 in the all-time series
-Air Force opens the ASUN Conference slate next weekend on the road against Jacksonville

How it Happened
First Quarter
The Falcons struck first, rattling off three unanswered goals in the opening 10 minutes. Mana Wilhelm was the first to score via Josh Yago's assist in an extra man opportunity at 10:40. Air Force points leader Caelan Driggs scored the second goal unassisted at 7:49. Just over two minutes later, Yago scored his 17^th goal of the season with an unassisted attack at 5:29. Marquette's Nolan Rappis had the final say of the quarter, scoring at 1:33 with help from Will Foster.

Second Quarter
Marquette responded with a 3-1 quarter of their own behind three unanswered scores from Rappis (12:30), Will Foster (11:31), and Rappis again for his hat trick at 4:39. Wes Peene ended the scoring run with his 13^th goal of the season at the 3:39 mark. The teams entered the halftime break knotted up at four.

Third Quarter
The Falcons took the field out of the break ready to rock-and-roll, scoring three straight goals behind Yago and Cole Rassas. Senior midfielder Alexander Stepney assisted Yago in his second goal at 9:20. Rassas notched two straight at 8:22 (man up) and 4:12 to give the Falcons their largest lead since the first quarter, 7-4. The Golden Eagles responded forcefully, scoring three straight goals in under 2.5 minutes, including a goal scored by faceoff specialist Adam Slager just two seconds off the faceoff. Slager's goal knotted the teams at seven with 1:25 remaining in the quarter. Wes Peene gave the Falcons a one-goal advantage in the waning seconds via help from Yago.

Fourth Quarter
Marquette made their stand in the final 15, holding the Falcons scoreless while Will Foster scored at 10:22 to tie, followed by the eventual game-winner by Jake Bair at 8:30. Despite having a chance to equalize in the final minute, the Falcons were unable to connect on the tying score.

Next up
The Falcons finish up a three-game road stint and open the conference slate at Jacksonville, March 29. Action at Rock Stadium is slated for a noon ET start.

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