Air Force Rallies to 8-7 Win Against Queens

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force gritted out an 8-7 win against Queens University of Charlotte in ASUN action, Saturday afternoon, at Falcon Stadium. The Falcons, now on a two-game win streak, improved to 4-7 overall with a 2-1 mark in the league. The Royals, now 3-9 overall, remain in the hunt for their first league win (0-3).

SIGNIFICANT STATS
-Junior attack man Caelan Driggs led the offensive effort with three goals and an assist. Driggs has had a hat trick in three-straight games and has tallied eight hat trick performances this season. He leads AF with 37 goals, a mark that ties for fourth most single-season goals by a Falcon.
-Josh Yago, one of ASUN's points leaders and top assisters, helped with two goals and scored the first goal of the game. Yago has 48 points this season and 132 career points.
-Junior defender Cole Cunningham was a menace, causing five of Queens' 22 turnovers and picking up a team high five ground balls. He is second in the league in ground balls per game and fourth in the ASUN in caused turnovers.
-The defensive unit was outstanding, causing 14 turnovers on the game. Cody Gross, Connor Albertson, and Aidan Chairs caused two turnovers each. Albertson and freshman teammate Hee-Cheol Shin picked up three ground balls each.
-Junior attack man Ryan Stadelmaier tallied a pair of goals marking his third-straight game with two or more goals. He has 15 goals this season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Both Air Force and Queens were marred by miscues and turnovers. Josh Yago broke the seal on scoring eight minutes into the game. Freshman Alex Rismani plugged one in just under three minutes later with help from Caelan Driggs. The quarter ended at 2-0 in favor of Air Force.

Second Quarter
The Falcons went scoreless in the second quarter while conceding a pair of goals to Jack Royer at 14:48 and 11:00. Miscues and turnovers sent the teams to the halftime locker room with just two goals each. It was the first time this season that AF went into the halftime break with only two goals.

Third Quarter
Despite the break, sluggish play continued into the third quarter. Queens outscored Air Force, 3-2. The Royals took their largest lead of the game in the wake of goals from Carter Petersen and Ryan McCarthy. Ryan Stadelmaier returned the Falcons to reason with a goal at 5:26 via help from Josh Yago. Queens' Sam Strother regained a two-goal lead at 1:48 with help from Braden Macnamara. Driggs ignited the Falcons with an unassisted goal with just 18 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Air Force entered the fourth quarter trailing, 5-4.

Fourth Quarter
The Royals' Carter Petersen delivered Queens' third two-goal lead of the game at 11:08. With playoff implications in mind, Air Force settled down and got to work. Cole Rassas scored at 8:20 to bring Air Force within one. Driggs, the Falcons' go-to man, rattled off two goals at 6:32 and 5:02 to tie and take the lead, respectively. Freshman Michael Frieri won a crucial faceoff that led to an insurance goal from Ryan Stadelmaier with 1:32 on the ticker. Just 20 seconds later, the Royals' Dylan Behnke scored a goal to bring Queens within one. Frieri, again, was clutch in winning the faceoff to derail Queens' rally. The Falcons held the ball until the final horn.

NEXT 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.

Players Mentioned

Connor Albertson

Aidan Chairs

Cole Cunningham

Caelan Driggs

Michael Frieri

Cody Gross

Cole Rassas

Alex Rismani

Hee-Cheol Shin

Ryan Stadelmaier

Josh Yago

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