Falcon Lacrosse Takes on Mercer in Road Game Finale

GAME 12
AIR FORCE (4-7, 2-1 ASUN) vs. MERCER (2-9, 1-2 ASUN)
12 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 19
Five Star Stadium - Macon, Ga.

The History
Air Force and Mercer are meeting for the 14^th time overall with the Falcons holding a firm grip on the series, 11-2. AF is an impressive 7-0 when playing in Macon and is on a three-game win streak against the Bears. Last season, the Falcons put up 20 goals to five against Mercer at USAFA. Josh Yago put up a career best with eight points on the Bears via three goals and five assists. Seniors Matt Rubino and Wes Peene were good for a hat trick each. Of the 12 Falcons who scored a goal last season, nine are returning to action in Macon.

With a Win
If Air Force can handle Mercer on their turf, they will secure a spot in the 2025 ASUN Championship Tournament, marking the fourth year in as many tries making the league playoffs. Prior to this weekend, Utah (4-7, 3-0 ASUN) is the only team to have clinched a playoff berth.

A Glance at the Bears
Mercer will take the field under the command of head coach Ryan Danehy in his second season at the helm. Danehy completed his first year with the team earning the fourth seed in the ASUN tournament (first tournament berth since 2015), three All-ASUN selections and three USILA Scholar All-Americans.

The Bears lead the team in scoring behind Dillon Bush (32g, 3a), Michael Frederick (15g, 10a), and Will Zylstra (15g, 8a). The defense is led by Kelley Quinn with 11 caused turnovers and 20 ground balls. Thomas Venzie leads all non-faceoff players in ground balls this season (32).

Christopher Cappleman has made the most attempts at the center dot (91-201) while Carter Kryszak has the best faceoff win percentage (43-60). In goal Rand Paddock is likely to get the start. He holds a .486 save percentage and a 15.17 GAA.

A Look at Air Force
After three games of ASUN play, here is how the Falcons stack up against league opponents:
-Man-up offense: .500 (1^st, in ASUN, 8th in the NCAA)
-Opponent clear percentage: .810 (1^st in ASUN)
-Scoring defense: 10.09 (1^st in ASUN)
-Scoring margin: 1.09 (1^st in ASUN)
-Turnovers per game: 15.6 (1^st in ASUN)
-Points per game: 18.00 (2^nd in ASUN)
-Assist per game: 6.82 (2^nd in ASUN)
-Caused Turnovers per game: 8.55 (2^nd in ASUN)
-Shot percentage: .325 (2^nd in ASUN, 12th in NCAA)
-Scoring offense: 11.18 (3^rd in ASUN)

-Junior attack man Caelan Driggs is second in the ASUN in goals per game (3.20), a mark that ranks him ninth in the NCAA. Driggs is third in the ASUN in points per game (4.20), just behind teammate Josh Yago.
-Senior goalie Jake Marek leads in the ASUN in goals against average (10.73) and has the third best save percentage in the conference (.492).
-Senior attack man Josh Yago is second in the ASUN in assists per game (2.20), a mark that ranks him 13th in the NCAA. Yago is also second in the league in points per game (4.50), a mark that is 14^th most in the NCAA.
-Senior faceoff specialist Daniel Haimes has the second-best faceoff percentage in the ASUN (.515), just behind league leader Tyler Kloeckl of Utah (.546).
-Junior defender Cole Cunningham is second in the league in ground balls per game (4.90), and fourth in the ASUN in caused turnovers per game (1.40)

Home Field Advantage
AF is 4-1 when playing at Falcon Stadium, only falling to No. 14 Denver in the home opener, February 8. The Falcons average 15.6 goals per game when playing at home and have held their last four visiting opponents to a seven-goal average. Contrarily, the Falcons have yet to win a game on the road.

Etching into the Record Book
-Josh Yago's 132 career points is seventh in the AF record book, just behind Will Meister's 139 points (2004-07). His 66 career assists are fifth highest behind former teammate Brandon Dodd (2020-23) who is fourth with 70.
-Calean Driggs' 74 career goals is eighth most behind Griffin Nevitt (2006-09) who has 77. His 37 single-season goals ties Chris MacAulay (1998) and Chris Walsch (2015) for fourth. Crampton holds the all-time single-season goals record with 48 in 2015.

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

Coming Up
Air Force returns to Falcon Stadium for the final time of the 2025 campaign to host ASUN frontrunner Utah, Saturday (April 26). Action is slated for noon MT. Prior to the game, the Falcons will celebrate 12 seniors for Senior Day.

Last Time Out
Air Force gritted out an 8-7 win against Queens University of Charlotte in ASUN action, Saturday afternoon (April 14), at Falcon Stadium. Junior attack man Caelan Driggs led the offensive effort with three goals and an assist. Josh Yago, one of ASUN's points leaders and top assisters, helped with two goals and scored the first goal of the game. Cole Cunningham caused five of Queens' 22 turnovers and picking up a team best five ground balls. 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.

Cunningham Awarded Second ASUN Defensive POTW Award of the Season
Junior defender Cole Cunningham was a menace in the 8-7 win against Queens, causing five of the Royals' 22 turnovers and picking up a team high five ground balls. The defensive unit was outstanding, causing 14 turnovers on the game. The honor marks Cunningham's second weekly conference award of the season.

Falcon Lacrosse Takes on Mercer in Road Game Finale

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cole Cunningham

Caelan Driggs

Daniel Haimes

Jake Marek

Wes Peene

Matt Rubino

Ryan Stadelmaier

Josh Yago

Footer