Air Force Tripped up at Marist, 13-11

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – A slow start on Leonidoff Field resulted in a 13-11 non-conference Air Force loss to Marist, Saturday afternoon at Tenney Stadium. The Falcons, now on a four-game skid, dropped to 1-4 while Marist improved to 2-2 with the win.

A pair of Falcons notched hat tricks in Caelan Driggs and AJ Serna, Driggs snapping a three-game scoreless cold streak. Driggs, now with 103 career goals, also added three assists to his stat line for a season-best performance. He attempted a season-high 13 shots on the game. Serna, scoring his first collegiate goals, went big with the second-half hat trick.

Six Falcons tallied the11 goals, with just two coming in the first half. Jack Gounaris, the first Falcon to score, notched his first collegiate goal with 34 seconds remaining in the first quarter with help from Driggs. Cole Rassas, scored his first-of-two goals with 4:43 remaining in the second via pass from Luke Vrsansky. His second goal came two and a half minutes out of the halftime break, marking his seventh of the season. The Falcons went quiet from 12:27 to four seconds remaining in the third period where Serna scored his first goal via Driggs' second assist.

Ben Heidt, Tyler Smart, and Driggs scored three goals in succession to open the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 10-8 while putting Air Force in striking distance. Christian Schweiger, AF assists leader, dished to Heidt for the goal. Marist responded by rattling off two goals at 6:50 and 6:20.

Driggs and Serna fired back, scoring two goals at 4:33 and 2:42, respectively, Schweiger assisting Serna. The Red Foxes and Falcons traded goals in the final minute with Serna scoring his hat trick goal with 11 seconds remaining in regulation.

Sophomore faceoff specialist Rogan Kane had a career day, winning a personal best 14-of-21 (.667) faceoffs and picking up a career best seven ground balls. Seniors Connor Albertson and Cole Cunningham led the groundball cleanup effort behind Kane, scooping up four and three, respectively.

Sophomore goalie Matt Deedy made seven saves in 60 minutes while his counterpart, Richie Metzger earned his second straight win with 15 saves.

Next up, Air Force returns to USAFA to host perennial powerhouse Duke, Saturday, March 7. The meeting marks the Blue Devils' first visit to Falcon Stadium. Shortly thereafter, another powerhouse comes to the Academy as Syracuse takes on Falcons on Thursday, March 12. The visit will mark first time the Orangemen making the trip to USAFA.

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Team Stats

Caelan Driggs

AJ Serna

Cole Rassas

Tyler Smart

Players Mentioned

Connor Albertson

Cole Cunningham

Matt Deedy

Caelan Driggs

Jack Gounaris

Ben Heidt

Rogan Kane

Cole Rassas

Christian Schweiger

AJ Serna

Tyler Smart

Luke Vrsansky

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