Falcon Lacrosse Hosts Queens University of Charlotte in ASUN Conference Action

GAME 11
AIR FORCE (2-7, 1-1 ASUN) vs. QUEENS (N.C.) (3-8, 0-2 ASUN)
12 p.m. MT, Saturday, April 12
Falcon Stadium - USAF Academy, Colo.

The History
Air Force and Queens will be meeting for the third time since the Royals became a Division I lacrosse program in 2023. The Falcons lead the all-time series, 2-0. Last season, AF hosted Queens at USAFA, besting the Royals 14-10— Josh Yago, Caelan Driggs, and Cole Rassas put up two goals apiece in the offensive effort. In the first meeting, the Falcons downed the Royals, 18-6, in Charlotte. Yago gave Queens a proper Div. I welcome with a five-goal showing.

A Glance at the Royals
Queens will take the field under the command of Nik Colpitts in his first season following his stint as an assistant coach with the team during the 2023 season. The Royals are led in scoring by Jack Royer (26g, 9a) and Carter Petersen (17g, 3a).

On paper, defense is a strong suit for Queens with three players with double-digit caused turnovers— Jacob Schreck (16ct, 52gb), Deacon Adams (14ct, 38gb) and Michael White (14ct, 20gb).

At center X, Grant Isika will likely get the call. He has a .527 faceoff win percentage and has scooped up 56 ground balls this season. The Queens goal is split by Nicky West and Dylan Axman. West has a .527 save percentage while Axman is .419. The duo allows roughly 12.7 goals per game.

A Look at Air Force
After two games of ASUN play, the Falcons lead all ASUN teams in:
-Man-up offense: .500 (6^th in the NCAA)
-Opponent clear percentage: .824
-Points per game: 18.6
-Scoring defense: 10.40
-Scoring margin: 1.10
-Scoring offense: 11.50
-Shot percentage: .325 (9^th in NCAA)
-Turnovers per game: 15.8

-Junior attack man Caelan Driggs leads the ASUN in goals per game (3.22), a mark that ranks him ninth in the NCAA. Driggs is third in the ASUN in points per game (4.22), just behind teammate Josh Yago.
-Senior goalie Jake Marek leads in the ASUN in goals against average (11.21) and has the third best saves per game mark in the conference (9.56).
-Senior attack man Josh Yago is second in the ASUN in assists per game (2.22), a mark that ranks him 12^th in the NCAA. Yago is also second in the league in points per game (4.67) and fourth in the ASUN in goals per game (2.44).
-Senior faceoff specialist Daniel Haimes has the second-best faceoff percentage in the ASUN (.530), just behind league leader Tyler Kloeckl of Utah (.546).
-Junior defender Cole Cunningham is second in the league in ground balls per game (4.89), and fourth in the ASUN in caused turnovers per game (1.00)

Home Field Advantage
AF is 3-1 when playing at Falcon Stadium, only falling to No. 14 Denver in the home opener, February 8. The Falcons average 17.5 goals per game in all home games and have averaged 20 goals in the last three home contests. Air Force has held its last three visiting opponents to a seven-goal average.

Etching into the Record Book
-Josh Yago's 129 career points is seventh in the AF record book, just behind Will Meister's 139 points (2004-07). His 64 career assists are fifth highest behind former teammate Brandon Dodd (2020-23) who is fourth with 70.
-Calean Driggs' 71 career goals is 10^th in the record book behind a two-way tie at eighth between Vinny Sandtorv (2008-11) and Justin Kuchta (2004-07) who have 72 career goals. His 34 single-season goals ties Mike Crampton (2013) and Mike Murphy (1994) for 10^th. Crampton holds the all-time single-season goals record with 48 in 2015.

Gone Streaking
-Calelan Driggs has scored a goal in every game this season. He is on a two-game hat trick streak and has six hat tricks in the last five shows.
-Josh Yago has scored a goal in every game this season and dished at least one assist in all but one game so far. He averages three goals per game in the last five games.
-Cole Cunningham has picked up a game high and career-best eight ground balls for the last two games.

Last Time Out
Air Force got back into the win column following an 18-6 routing of Bellarmine in ASUN Conference action, April 5, at Falcon Stadium. Three Falcons notched hat tricks in the offensive onslaught marking the third straight home game with three AF players scoring hat tricks. Junior attack man Caelan Driggs continued to make his case as one the NCAA's leading scorers, notching four goals for his third straight hat trick, eighth of the season. Senior team captain Josh Yago continued tracking toward a 50-point season, scoring four goals and three assists. Junior attacker Ryan Stadelmaier put up three goals and two assists for a career-best five points.

Senior faceoff specialist Daniel Haimes was excellent at the center dot, winning a career best 13 faceoffs with a career high faceoff win percentage (.764). Cole Cunningham, the Falcons' leader in ground balls, picked up eight GBs for the second consecutive game. Senior goalie Jake Marek had a season-high save percentage (.667) in his third win. He made 12 saves on the game.

Yago Claims Career First ASUN POTW, April 7
Josh Yago led the Falcons with a seven-point showing in the 18-6 defeat of Bellarmine last weekend. The senior recorded a point in each quarter and facilitated two other hat-trick performances with his three assists. The award marks a career first for Yago and the third weekly honor for Air Force this season.

Coming Up
The Falcons travel to Macon, Georgia, to take on Mercer in the regular season road finale, April 19. Action at Five Star Stadium is slated for noon ET.

Falcon Lacrosse Hosts Queens University of Charlotte in ASUN Conference Action

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cole Cunningham

Caelan Driggs

Daniel Haimes

Jake Marek

Cole Rassas

Ryan Stadelmaier

Josh Yago

Footer