The Air Force lacrosse team (3-3) heads to West Point, N.Y.

The Air Force lacrosse team (3-3) heads to West Point, N.Y., this weekend as it takes on service academy-rival Army on Saturday, April 2. The game is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. (ET) at Michie Stadium.


Last Time Out...
The Falcons split their two games last week, falling to Fairfield, 10-9, in their GWLL-opener before rebounding with a 13-11 victory over St. John’s.

In its first game of the week, Air Force, which trailed 6-2 at one point against the Stags, rallied to tie the game at 9-9. However, Fairfield scored on an extra-man opportunity with just 1:05 on the clock to tally the game-winning goal.

Leading scorers for the Falcons against Fairfield were Conrad Lochocki and Kevin Crumrine, with three goals each, while Will Meister added three assists.

Meanwhile, the Falcons remained in control for most of the game against St. John’s. Although the Red Storm was able to move within a single goal on numerous occasions, Air Force held on for the two-point victory.

Meister, with three goals and three assists, and Justin Kuchta (two goals, four assists) led Air Force with six points each against the Red Storm. Meanwhile, Lochocki recorded a hat trick for the second straight game.


Scouting the Black Knights...
Army, ranked fifth in the latest USILA coaches poll, improved to 6-1 with an 11-10 victory over 11th-ranked Hofstra Tuesday night at Michie Stadium.

The Black Knights led by as many as four goals in the final period, but gave up three unanswered scores by the Pride to end the game. Leading Army in the contest was John Walker with a career-high five goals and seven points, while Adam Fullerton registered a career-best 11 saves.

On the season, Walker leads the team with 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists), while Jim Wagner is right behind with 26 points (22 goals, four assists).


How We Rate...
In the latest edition of national statistics released by the NCAA (through games on March 27), Air Force goalkeeper Justin Pavoni is ranked second in the nation in ground balls with 7.83 per game, trailing only Alex Smith of Delaware.

Meanwhile, sophomore attackman Will Meister is also in the national rankings, rated 10th in the country in assists per game with 2.17 and 13th in points per game with 3.67.


How They Rate...
In the latest NCAA statistical reports, Army was ranked among the nation’s leaders in several categories, both as a team and individually. Including only games played through March 27, the Black Knights lead the country in man-down defense at .917 and are third in man-up offense (.476). Army is also sixth in scoring defense (6.17), 10th in scoring margin (3.5) and 16th in face-off win percentage (.551).

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Adam Fullerton leads the nation in goals against average (4.64) and is second in save percentage at .667. Jim Wagner was rated third in goals per game (3.17) and 20th in points per game (3.5), while John Walker was rated 13th in assists per game with 2.0. Rounding out the group of Army players in the national rankings is Erik Mineo, who is 17th with a .590 face-off win percentage.


In the Series...
The Falcons are 0-11 all-time against Army, with the last meeting an 11-10 overtime loss for Air Force.


Last Year vs. Army...
Last season, the Falcons were just minutes away from defeating rival Army for the first time ever, but ended up falling 11-10 in overtime to the Black Knights. Army scored two goals in the final two minutes of regulation to force overtime and notched the gamewinner just 1:48 into the extra period.

Leading the way for the Falcons in the game was freshman Justin Kuchta with four goals, while Justin Pavoni recorded 17 saves.


Helping Out...
The Falcons did an outstanding job of making the right passes against St. John’s, resulting in assists on 11 of 13 goals in the game. Leading the way was sophomore Justin Kuchta, who tallied four assists, while Will Meister added three assists. D.J. Benzing and Max Miller each contributed two assists as well.


Man Down!
Senior co-captain Tim Hade earned an interesting distinction in the game at St. John’s, becoming the first, and only, player in the GWLL this season to record a man-down goal. Hade, who had never scored a goal before this season, now has three this year, including two last week alone.


We’ve Gotta Score...
This season, Air Force’s success has been measured by its ability to find the back of the net. The Falcons are 3-0 in games when they have scored in double figures, but are 0-3 when scoring under 10. In their three wins, the Falcons have averaged 12 goals per game. In contrast, Air Force averaged just six goals per game in its three losses.


AF In The GWLL Rankings...
In the latest rankings released by the GWLL on March 29, several Falcons are rated among the league’s leaders in various statistical categories.

Junior goalkeeper Justin Pavoni remains the league leader in ground balls per game with 7.83, while also tying for first in the GWLL in saves with 10.67 pg. Meanwhile, Air Force’s sophomore trio of Will Meister, Justin Kuchta and Conrad Lochocki all find themselves rated among the league’s offensive leaders. Meister ranks second in the GWLL in both assists (2.17) and points (3.67) per game. Kuchta is tied for fifth in the league in goals (2.0 pg) and is rated fourth in points (3.17 pg), while Lochocki is fourth in goals per game with 2.17.


AF In League Openers...
With its loss to Fairfield last week, Air Force now holds a 2-10 record in league openers since the inception of the Great Western Lacrosse League in 1994. The Falcons’ last victory in a GWLL opener was a 14-13 win over Ohio State in 1997.


Up Next...
After a week off, the Falcons head to South Bend, Ind., on April 10 for a noon match-up against GWLL-foe Notre Dame.

UC Davis Katie McMahon Honored As MPSF Player Of The Week

UC Davis Katie McMahon Honored As MPSF Player Of The Week
WOODLAND, Calif. UC Davis Sophomore attacker Katie McMahon is the MPSF player of the week. McMahon led the Aggies in scoring during each of three games scoring five goals in the Marist win, eight goals against Howard and two goals in the Aggies loss to Monmouth. McMahon scored 15 goals and had four assists in the three games.

Bears And Aggies Best On The Road

Bears And Aggies Best On The Road
STANFORD fell to No. 6 ranked Duke in Nashville 1-18. Megan Burker scored the lone goal for the Cardinal while goalkeeper Laura Shane made 16 saves. CALIFORNIA took to the east where they took on Notre Dame losing 8-18. Sophomore midfielder Liz Reifsnyder led the team with two goals and two assists. Next up was Brown University where the Golden Bears took home a 10-9 victory. Molly Brady and Laura Cavallo scored hat tricks in the win. On to a 11-6 victory over Harvard where Brady, Reifsnyder, Cristin Andrews and Jocelyn Paul each had two goals in the win. UC DAVIS played Marist at home to a 12-8 win with Sophomore Katie McMahon leading the Aggies with five goals. The Aggies took to the road playing Howard to a 13-7 win in which McMahon scored eight goals including the first six of the game. Next up was Monmouth where UC Davis let the Hawks get away with a 7-1 start that they turned in to a 5-13 loss for the Aggies. DENVER went on the road and played Stony Brook to a 9-10 loss and Hofstra to a 9-17 loss. OREGON’s two game winning streak came to an end as Longwood defeated the Ducks 10-7. Jana Bradley and Theresa Waldron scored two goals apiece. Next up for the Ducks was LaSalle where they lost 10-15 in a torrential downpour. Three times was not a charm when the Ducks lost to Maryland-Baltimore County 11-14. Bradley led the team again with four goals. ST MARY’S earned their first win of the season in a 15-11 victory over Marist. Jen Utley scored four goals to lead the Gaels. Goalkeeper Katie Augustine collected nine saves against 37 shots.

No. 10 Hofstra Too Much of Denver - Pioneers drop seventh consecutive game

No. 10 Hofstra Too Much of Denver - Pioneers drop seventh consecutive game

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Becky Thorn scored a game-high four goals and Hofstra opened the game on a 7-1 run en route to a 17-9 victory over the University of Denver women’s lacrosse team on Saturday afternoon at Shuart Stadium.

The loss, Denver’s seventh in a row, drops the Pioneers to 1-9. Hofstra improves to 7-1 with its third consecutive victory.

The Pride struck early and often as Tara Buecker scored two of Hofstra's first five goals as Hofstra led 5-0 just 11:05 into the contest. The Pioneers would finally get on the board at the 15:57 mark as sophomore Kate Broderick (Chantilly, Va.) scored off a free position shot. Buecker would add her third of the game just over a minute later before Kim Hillier gave the Pride the 7-1 advantage with 12:23 left before halftime. Each team would tack on three more goals apiece in the first half, giving Hofstra a 10-4 lead at the break.

Leading by six at the start of the second half, the Pride would break the game wide open with a 5-0 run to start the half and led 15-4 with 20:34 remaining in the second half. Hofstra had four different goal scorers during the half-starting run, with Thorn netting two of her goals. The Pioneers would cut into the 11-goal deficit, as they scored
four of the next five goals and trailed 16-8 with 4:06 left in the contest. Each team would tally one more goal in the game, with Jaime Basile scoring for the Pride and junior Steph Greenlees (Lake Forest, Ill.) notching her third of the game for the Pioneers.

Buecker and Hillier each added hat tricks for Hofstra, with Hillier picking up a game-high seven ground balls. Thorn had a game-high four draw controls for the Pride, while Caitlin Connolly and Jaime Irving each had three caused turnovers.

Greenlees and Broderick were the only other member of the Pioneers to notch multiple goals.

Denver returns to action on Friday, April 1 when the Pioneers travel to Washington, D.C. to battle American University at 11 a.m. MT.

Women’s Lacrosse Falls at Stony Brook 10-9 in Overtime - Greenlees finished with a game-high four goals

Women’s Lacrosse Falls at Stony Brook 10-9 in Overtime - Greenlees finished with a game-high four goals

STONY BROOK, N.Y. - Junior midfielder Steph Greenlees (Lake Forest, Ill.) finished with a game-high four goals but it was not enough as Stony Brook came from behind to defeat the University of Denver women’s lacrosse team 10-9 in overtime on Friday evening at LaValle Stadium. The Pioneers were unable to hold onto a 7-3 halftime lead. Denver falls to 1-8, while the Seawolves improve to 4-2.

Denver jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on goals from freshman Megan Tyrie (Littleton, Colo.), sophomore Kate Broderick (Chantilly, Va.) and Greenlees. Stony Brook finally got onto the board 10 minutes into the game. The Pioneers responded as Greenlees scored her second and third goals of the day to give Denver a 5-1 lead with under 18 minutes to play in the half. After a Seawolve tally, Greenlees netted her fourth goal of the half and Denver led 6-2 at 9:57. Stony Brook scored again at 7:58 but senior Crystal Jack (Kingwood, Texas) struck back a minute and a half later to give the Pioneers a 7-3 lead heading into the break.

The Seawolves opened the second half with three goals to pull within one at 17:49. Goals from Broderick and freshman Kiley Murphy (Wilton, Conn.) pushed Denver back ahead at 9-6. Stony Brook refused to yield scoring three goals over the next seven minutes to tie the game at 9-9 at the end of regulation.

Late in the first overtime, SB’ Amy Taylor netted what would be the game winner.

Greenlees finished with a game-high four goals, while junior Tanya Fuchs (Bay Shore, N.Y.) added three assists. Broderick finished with a pair of goals in the loss. Senior goalkeeper Steph Schneider (Leesburgh, Va.) stopped five shots.

The Pioneers return to action tomorrow when they travel to Hempstead, N.Y. to battle the Hofstra Pride at 9 a.m. MT.

Falcons Drop Heartbreaker to Fairfield, 10-9

U.S. Air Force Academy
Athletic Media Relations
Contact: Melissa McKeown
(719) 333-9025

March 23, 2005

Falcons Drop Heartbreaker to Fairfield, 10-9

Fairfield, Conn. – With the score tied at 9-9 with just 1:05 remaining in the contest, Fairfield’s Travis Nelson scored the game-winning goal, as the Air Force lacrosse team fell to the Stags, 10-9, Wednesday afternoon in its GWLL opener at Lessing Field. The Falcons drop to 2-3 overall, 0-1 in the GWLL, while Fairfield improves to 4-2, 1-0 in the league.

Fairfield was the first to score in the game, when Nelson got on board with an assist by Kyle Herman. The Falcons responded with two quick goals, including an extra-man goal by sophomore Conrad Lochocki (Chalfont, Pa.) at the 7:58 mark. Another goal by the Stags left the score knotted at 2-2 at the end of the well-balanced first period.

The Stags came out on fire to open the second period, scoring four unanswered, including three straight by Herman, to gain a 6-2 advantage. Freshman Kevin Crumrine (Edgewater, Md.) finally stopped the Air Force scoring drought with a goal at the 7:52 mark and senior co-captain Tim Hade (Franklin Lake, N.J.) found the back of the net just six seconds later to bring the Falcons back within two goals. Each team scored once more in the half to give Fairfield a 7-5 lead at intermission.

No one was able to score for the first 10 and a half minutes after the break, until Crumrine notched his third goal of the day with 4:29 on the clock. Less than a minute later, sophomore Will Meister (Denver, Colo.) found Lochocki for his second score, as Air Force tied the game at 7-7. However, the Stags once again took control, notching the last score of the third period and the first goal of the fourth quarter.

Just 13 seconds after Fairfield went up 9-7, Meister set up Lochocki for yet another Air Force goal, cutting the deficit to one goal with just over six minutes remaining in regulation. Three minutes later, Connecticut native Justin Kuchta (So., Ridgefield, Conn.) tied the game with his second goal of the day. However, the Falcons come-from-behind rally was stopped short as Nelson scored on an extra-man opportunity to seal the victory.

Air Force gave the Stags plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the extra-man situation, committing seven penalties in the game for a total of five minutes. Meanwhile, Fairfield had just one 30-second penalty in the game, which the Falcons were able to capitalize on. The Stags also outshot Air Force 40-31 in the game and had a decided advantage on face-offs, winning 18-of-23 for the contest.

Scoring leaders for the Falcons were Lochocki and Crumrine with three goals each, while Meister added three assists. In addition, Kuchta scored two goals for Air Force. Meanwhile, between the pipes, junior Justin Pavoni (Jr., Park City, Utah) tallied seven saves and five ground balls.

For the Stags, Herman notched four goals and an assist, while Nelson added three goals and goalkeeper Michael Kruger recorded 10 saves.

The Falcons continue their five-game road swing on Saturday, March 26, as they travel to Queens, N.Y., to take on St. John’s. Opening face-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (ET) at DaSilva Memorial Field.

Fairfield 10, Air Force 9
Air Force Scoring: Goals: Conrad Lochocki 3, Kevin Crumrine 3, Justin Kuchta 2, Tim Hade. Assists: Will Meister 3, D.J. Benzing, Max Miller.
Fairfield Scoring: Goals: Kyle Herman 4, Travis Nelson 3, Matt Castele 2, Josh Thornton. Assists: Mike Bocklet 2, Josh Thornton 2, Greg Downing, Brendan Finnerty, Kyle Herman.

-30-

The Air Force lacrosse team (2-2) opens up its conference slate this week

The Air Force lacrosse team (2-2) opens up its conference slate this week, as it travels to GWLL-opponent Fairfield on Wednesday, March 23. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. at Lessing Field. The Falcons then continue their road trip with a contest at first-year program St. John’s at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 26.


Last Time Out…
Struggling on the offensive end, the Falcons fell to Penn, 6-3, in its home opener. After a scoreless opening period, the Quakers outscored the Falcons 4-1 in the second quarter. Penn extended its advantage to five in the third quarter, before Air Force scored two unanswered to close the gap. However, the game ended with yet another scoreless period as the Falcons fell to 2-2 on the season.

Scoring for Air Force were Conrad Lochocki, Justin Kuchta and Tim Hade, while Will Meister added his seventh assist of the season.


Scouting the Stags...
Fairfield enters this week’s contest with a 3-2 record after knocking off then-20th-ranked Harvard, 7-6, Saturday afternoon.

The Stags led through most of the game before the Crimson tied the game at 6-6 with 5:52 remaining on the clock. However, Fairfield’s Greg Downing scored the only extra-man goal of the day just over a minute later to put the Stags back on top. Fairfield stayed ahead as sophomore goalkeeper Michael Kruger, who notched a career-high 20 saves in the game, recorded four saves in the last two minutes.

Downing leads the Fairfield offense with seven goals and seven assists, while Mike Bocklet has a team-high nine goals. Meanwhile, through five games, Kruger has 51 saves and a 7.57 goals against average.


In the Series...
Air Force is 2-2 all-time against Fairfield, and has won every other game in the series. Last year’s contest was a 12-6 victory for the Falcons.


Last Year vs. Fairfield...
Air Force defeated Fairfield, 12-6, last season at home to snap a five-game losing streak. The Falcons, led by Will Meister with two points and three assists, pulled away in the third quarter to grab its first league win of the season.


Scouting the Red Storm...
First-year program St. John’s enters this weekend’s contest with a 2-4 record after falling, 6-3, to Loyola Saturday.

Although the Red Storm scored first against Loyola, the Greyhounds rattled off three unanswered to go up 3-1 at the end of the opening period. St. John’s was never able to get closer than two goals the rest of the way, despite its stout defense. Jack Rosson led the Red Storm with a goal and an assist, while Mike McGuire and Graeme Gillespie scored a goal each. Between the pipes, Dave Saccente tallied 16 saves.

On the season, Justin O’Donnell leads the St. John’s offense with nine goals and three assists, while Patrick Zeis also has 12 points (four goals, eight assists).


AF In League Openers...
Since the inception of the Great Western Lacrosse League in 1994, Air Force holds a 2-9 record in league openers. The Falcons’ last victory in a GWLL opener was a 14-13 win over Ohio State in 1997.


We’ve Gotta Score...
This season, Air Force’s success has been measured by its ability to find the back of the net, winning both games in which it has scored in double figures. In their two wins, the Falcons have averaged 11.5 goals per game. In contrast, Air Force averaged just 4.5 goals per game in its two losses (six versus Towson and three against Penn).


How We Rate...
The Falcons have a few players that rank among the conference leaders in points and ground balls.

Sophomore Will Meister and Justin Kuchta rank among the top scorers in the league, as Meister is third with 3.25 ppg, while Kuchta is seventh with 2.75 ppg. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Justin Pavoni leads the league in ground balls per game with 8.0.


Up Next...
The Falcons continue their five-game road stretch on Saturday, April 2, when they head to West Point, N.Y., to face service academy rival Army.

Time and Date Change for Pioneer Lacrosse - Men’s game against Harvard at 1 p.m., women’s game versus Regis on April 12

LACROSSE NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Time and Date Change for Pioneer Lacrosse - Men’s game against Harvard at 1 p.m., women’s game versus Regis on April 12

DENVER – The University of Denver men and women’s lacrosse teams both announced changes to their respective schedules today.

The men’s game against Harvard on Saturday, April 2 will now begin at 1 p.m.

The women’s contest against Regis College has been moved to Tuesday, April 12 at 4 p.m.

Both games are still at Peter Barton Stadium.

- www.DenverPioneers.com -

No. 7 Maryland Laxers Defeat Denver, 15-3 - Jack, Broderick and Baines score for Denver

WOMEN’S LACROSSE NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 14, 2005

No. 7 Maryland Laxers Defeat Denver, 15-3 - Jack, Broderick and Baines score for Denver

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Brook Richards scored a career-high six points as Maryland defeated Denver 15-3 Monday afternoon at the Lacrosse/Field Hockey Complex. Kirah Miles helped keep the Pioneers scoreless throughout most of the game with six saves and Jessica Dorney added a hat trick to contribute to the Terp offense.

The Terps (4-2) won the opening draw but turned the ball over in their offensive zone. The Pioneers (1-6) were patient on the attack, getting two shots off over the next four minutes, but Miles stopped them both. The two teams traded three possessions without a score before Maryland finally got on the board on an unassisted Delia Cox goal at 18:17.

Maryland seized the momentum winning the following draw and racing down the field for Richards' first goal of the afternoon on an assist from Krista Pellizza to go up 2-0. Richards then factored in on Maryland's third goal forcing a Denver turnover and then connecting on a pass to Acacia Walker for her 15th goal of the season. The Terps again pounced quickly scoring just nine seconds later after Walker won the draw and Richards finished for the score
.
The two teams went nearly 10 minutes without a goal before Katie Doolittle found the back of the net at 4:27. For the third time on the day the Terps were able to get a breakaway on the draw control as Annie Collins connected on a long pass downfield to Richards which she converted for a goal just 19 seconds after the draw. Collins tacked on a free-position goal at 3:01 to give Maryland a 7-0 hafltime advantage.

The Terps didn't let up in the second half, as a Denver turnover led to another Richards goal at 28:48. Maryland again scored quickly off the ensuing draw as Cox found Kasper just 22 seconds later. Denver won the following draw but turned the ball over, leading to a Jessica Dorney goal on an assist from Collins to make the score 10-0 at 24:39.

The two teams traded possessions before Megan Sommar forced a turnover and scooped up the ground ball to start Maryland's transition. The Terps went end to end and Kasper finished for the goal at 24:39. Dorney and Walker scored again to stretch Maryland's lead to 13-0, but the Pioneers got on the board as sophomore Kate Broderick (Chantilly, Va.) scored a free-position goal with 14:08 left in the game.

Dorney worked around 8-meter arc and scored on a tough angle over three minutes later, but the senior Crystal Jack (Kingwood, Texas) answered by finishing on a pass from freshman Victoria Baines (Parker, Colo.). Pellizzi found Lauren Cohen for Maryland's final score of the day, and Jack's free-position goal with 44 seconds left was Denver's final goal.

The Terps were paced offensively by Richards' six-point performance, as well as Dorney's hat trick. Collins and Doolittle added three points with one-goal, two-assist games.

Defensively, the Terps forced 15 of Denver's 25 turnovers.

Denver will return to action on Wednesday when they battle Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Md. at 1 p.m. MT.

- www.DenverPioneers.com -

Pioneers Unable to Hold Onto Early Lead - Steph Greenlees tallies four points on two goals and two assists

WOMEN’S LACROSSE NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, March 13, 2005

Pioneers Unable to Hold Onto Early Lead - Steph Greenlees tallies four points on two goals and two assists

TOWSON, Md. – The University of Denver women’s lacrosse team (1-5) was unable to hold onto an early two-goal lead as the No. 15 Towson University Tigers (3-0) scored four consecutive goals en route to a 13-7 win over the Pioneers this afternoon at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

Freshman Megan Carver (Baltimore, Md.), the Pioneers’ leading scorer, got Denver on the board early on a free position goal at 28:10. Teammate senior Tara Bourdelaise (Grambrills, Md.) scored just over a minute later off a pass from senior Crystal Jack (Kingwood, Texas) at 26:41 to stake Denver to a quick 2-0 lead.

But the Tigers answered with four straight goals to take a 4-2 advantage with 7:17 remaining in the first half. Amy Middleton gave Towson its first goal at 24:50 with an assist from Shannon Witzel. Middleton scored again, unassisted, at 22:06 to tie the game after taking advantage of a turnover by Denver’s goalie senior Steph Schneider (Leesburg, Va.). Witzel netted a goal of her own at 21:03 in the first half to make it 3-2 Towson.

Middleton scored her third goal of the game off a pass from Erin Cayea to make it 4-2 in favor of the Tigers before Denver’s Tanya Fuchs (Bay Shore, N.Y.) found the back of the net with 6:10 left in the first to stop Towson’s scoring barrage.

However, that was the last Pioneer goal before the break. Towson’s Kelly scored her first goal of the season at 4:57 before Middleton scored twice more, at 2:28 off a pass from Witzel and then again at 1:03 unassisted, to give the Tigers a 7-3 lead going into the break.

Towson’s Becky Trumbo started the second half with a goal at 29:02 to push the Tigers’ lead to 8-3. Denver’s Fuchs cut Towson’s lead in half when she scored off a Steph Greenlees (Lake Forest, Ill.) pass at 26:33. The Tigers’ Cayea converted a free position attempt at 25:20 before Greenlees scored for the Pioneers three minutes later to keep Denver in the game, down 9-5.

Mary Beth Ardolino scored her first goal of the season for Towson at 17:30 with an assist by Trumbo before Cayea netted her second free position goal of the game at 13:04 to put Towson up 11-5.

Tiger Erin Rinella found the back of the net for the first time in 2005 at 9:17 to give Towson an insurmountable 12-5 lead. Greenlees had a hand in Denver’s last two goals, scoring the first at 4:58 and assisting Bourdelaise at 3:46.

Towson’s Witzel capped the scoring with an unassisted goal with one second left in the game.

Middleton ended the contest with a career-high-tying five goals for Towson. Cayea and Witzel both scored two, while goalkeeper Mandy Corry made eight saves for the Tigers.

Greenlees, Bourdelaise, and Fuchs each scored two goals for the Pioneers, and senior keeper Schneider made nine saves for Denver.

Denver will return to action tomorrow when they battle No. 7 Maryland in College Park at 2 p.m. MT.

- www.DenverPioneers.com -

Air Force Falters Against Penn, 6-3

U.S. Air Force Academy
Athletic Media Relations
Contact: Melissa McKeown
(719) 333-9025

March 10, 2005

Air Force Falters Against Penn, 6-3

USAFA, Colo. – Despite outshooting the Quakers 20-7 in the second half, the Air Force lacrosse team has problems finding the back of the net, falling to Penn, 6-3, Thursday afternoon at Cadet Lacrosse Stadium. The loss drops Air Force to 2-2 on the season, while the Quakers improve to 1-1.

After an opening period in which both teams matched up evenly across the board, Penn finally broke into the scoring column with a goal by DJ Andrzejewski at the 12:43 mark in the second period. Two more Quaker goals in the next minute of the game put Penn up 3-0, and it controlled the tempo throughout much of the quarter. James Riordan scored for the Quakers with just over five minutes remaining in the half before Air Force sophomore Conrad Lochocki (Chalfont, Pa.) found the back of the net at the 1:04 mark for the Falcons’ first score of the game.

The Quakers extended their lead to 6-1 with a pair of goals to start the third period. However, Air Force began to assert itself on offense, taking 12 shots in the quarter. The Falcons’ persistence finally paid off as sophomores Justin Kuchta (Ridgefield, Conn.) and Will Meister (So., Denver, Colo.) hooked up for an extra-man score with 4:21 remaining in the third period. Less than 30 seconds later, long-stick midfielder Tim Hade (Sr., Franklin Lake, N.J.) picked up the ground ball after a Penn turnover, breaking away for the unassisted score to close the margin to three goals. Unfortunately, Air Force could not get any closer as the period drew to a close.

Down by a manageable three goals to begin the fourth period, the Falcons continued to outshoot Penn, but their effort did not translate to the scoreboard, as neither team was able to notch a goal to end the game.

Scoring for Air Force were Lochocki, Kuchta and Hade with a goal each, while Meister added his team-best eighth assist of the year. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Justin Pavoni (Jr., Park City, Utah) had nine saves, all in the first half, for the Falcons, while adding seven ground balls.

For the Quakers, Andrzejewski had two goals, while Riordan added a goal and an assist to lead the team in scoring.

The Falcons have 13 days off before embarking upon a five-game road swing. Air Force begins its travels at GWLL opponent Fairfield with a 3:00 p.m. (ET) contest on Wednesday, March 23.

Penn 6, Air Force 3
Penn Scoring: Goals: DJ Andrzejewski 2, James Riordan, Zandy Reich, Mark Becker, Luke Dixson. Assists: James Riordan, Patrick Rogers.
Air Force Scoring: Goals: Conrad Lochocki, Justin Kuchta, Tim Hade. Assists: Will Meister.


-30-

The Air Force lacrosse team (2-1) opens its home schedule this week

The Air Force lacrosse team (2-1) opens its home schedule this week, as it hosts Penn on Thursday, March 10. The game will begin at 3:00 p.m. at Cadet Lacrosse Stadium.


Last Time Out...
Air Force went 1-1 last weekend at the Pioneer Face-Off Classic, hosted by Denver. The Falcons opened up the weekend with a 15-6 loss to 11th-ranked Towson before notching an 11-5 victory over Lafayette on Sunday.
After playing evenly against the Tigers in the first quarter, Air Force gave up a 5-2 lead to Towson at the end of the opening half. The Tigers then exploded offensively in the third period, outscoring Air Force 7-1 to take a commanding 12-3 lead. Another even period to end the game resulted in the 15-6 victory for the Tigers. Goalkeeper Justin Pavoni was outstanding for the Falcons, tallying 20 saves and 10 ground balls.
Lafayette took the early advantage in its game against the Falcons, but Air Force regrouped, taking a 4-2 lead at the end of the first period. After going up by three goals early in the second quarter, Air Force suffered a scoring drought, going without a goal for nearly 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the Leopards cut the margin to one goal. However, the Falcons came out on fire in the fourth quarter, outscoring Lafayette 6-2 for the 11-5 victory. Sophomores Will Meister and Justin Kuchta tallied five points each for the Falcons.

Scouting the Quakers...
Penn (0-1), which was ranked 17th in last week’s Inside Lacrosse media poll, fell out of the rankings after falling to unranked Villanova, 10-7, in its season opener.
The Quakers held a 5-3 lead at the half, but gave up four goals in the fourth quarter to lose the game. Leading scorers for Penn were DJ Andrzejewski with four points (two goals, two assists) and David Cornbrooks with two goals. Goalkeeper Greg Klossner tallied 12 saves in the loss.


In the Series...
This week marks the first-ever contest between the Falcons and the Quakers.


Meister, Kuchta Named to All-Tourney Team...
Sophomores Will Meister and Justin Kuchta were each named to the All-Pioneer Face-Off Classic team this past weekend, for their stellar performances. Meister, an attackman from Denver, Colo., combined for seven points on the weekend, with five goals and two assists, while also adding seven ground balls. Meanwhile, Kuchta, a midfielder from Ridgefield, Conn., also tallied seven points, scoring four goals and three assists.


Pavoni Saves The Day...
Although the Falcons fell to Towson on Saturday, goalkeeper Justin Pavoni was stellar against the Tigers, notching a career-high 20 saves while adding 10 ground balls. Through the first three games of the season, Pavoni is averaging 14 saves and 8.3 ground balls per contest.


How We Rate...
The Falcons have a few players that rank among the conference leaders in points, ground balls and save percentage.
Sophomores Will Meister and Justin Kuchta rank among the top scorers in the league, as Meister is tied for third with 4.0 ppg, while Kuchta is tied for seventh with 3.33 ppg. Goalkeeper Justin Pavoni leads the league in ground balls per game with 8.33, while ranking fifth in the conference with a .595 save percentage.


Up Next...
The Falcons have 13 days off before beginning their five-game road swing at Fairfield on March 23. The 3:00 p.m. (ET) contest will start Air Force’s 2005 GWLL slate.

Falcons Downs Lafayette, 11-5

U.S. Air Force Academy
Athletic Media Relations
Contact: Melissa McKeown
(719) 333-9025

March 6, 2005

Falcons Downs Lafayette, 11-5

Denver, Colo. – With a fourth-quarter offensive flurry, the Air Force lacrosse team defeated Lafayette, 11-5, Sunday on the final day of the Pioneer Face-Off Classic, hosted by Denver. The Falcons fall to 2-1 on the season, while the Leopards drop to 0-3.
Air Force fell behind early against the Leopards, who scored three minutes into the opening period. However, the Falcons evened the score just over 30 seconds later, as sophomore Justin Kuchta (Ridgefield, Conn.) found the back of the net off an assist by Kevin Crumrine (Fr., Edgewater, Md.). After a goal by Will Meister (So., Denver, Colo.) gave Air Force a 2-1 advantage, the Leopards scored again to tie the contest. However, Meister scored twice more in the period, including a goal with just three seconds left on the clock, to put the Falcons up 4-2 at the end of the first.

Kuchta’s score at the 13:15 mark in the second period put Air Force ahead 5-2, but the Falcons went cold offensively after that. Lafayette’s Bart Seifert scored his second goal of the day almost a minute and a half later to bring the Leopards within two. Neither team was able to score for the rest of the half, despite combining for 16 shots, including 11 for the Falcons.

Air Force’s offensive struggles continued in the third quarter, as the team was unable to score a single goal. With 12:47 remaining in the third, Lafayette scored to cut its deficit to 5-4, but thehe Falons Air Force defense was able to prevent the Leopards from tying the score once more.

The Falcons broke their scoring drought early in the fourth quarter, as senior co-captain D.J. Benzing (Severna Park, Md.) notched his first goal of the day. That score opened up the flood gates for the Falcons, who scored five goals in the next five and a half minutes to run away with the lead. Meanwhile, Lafayette scored just two goals in the final 15 minutes of the contest to give Air Force the 11-5 victory.

For the first time this season, Air Force held the advantage on face-offs, winning 10-of-18 in the game. It also outshot the Leopards 40-28, and had a 39-34 ground ball advantage. The Falcons did an exceptionally good job on clears, getting successful clears on 24-of-25 attempts.

Meister, with four goals and an assist, and Kuchta, with three goals and two assists, were the high scorers for Air Force with five points each, as both were named to the all-tournament team. Adding single goals for the Falcons were Conrad Lochocki (So., Chalfont, Pa.), Benzing, John Smith (Jr., Hicksville, N.Y.) and Paul Adams (Jr., Arvada, Colo.), while Crumrine notched two assists in the contest. Goalkeeper Justin Pavoni (Jr., Park City, Utah) tallied nine saves and five ground balls in the win, while Meister and Smith added five ground balls as well.

For the Leopards, Jon Paulson led in scoring with three goals, while Seifert added two goals. Meanwhile, starting goalkeeper Chris Rosa notched 14 saves on the afternoon.

The Falcons return to action this Thursday, March 10, when they open their 2005 home slate against Penn. The game is slated to begin at 3:00 p.m. at Cadet Lacrosse Stadium.

Air Force 11, Lafayette 5
Lafayette Scoring: Goals: Jon Paulson 3, Bart Seifert 2, Ryan Spitz. Assists: Matt Lukof, Greg Pierce.
Air Force Scoring: Goals: Will Meister 4, Justin Kuchta 3, Conrad Lochocki, D.J. Benzing, John Smith, Paul Adams. Assists: Kevin Crumrine 2, Justin Kuchta 2, D.J. Benzing, Conrad Lochocki, Will Meister.


-30-

Air Force Downed, 15-6, By #11 Towson

U.S. Air Force Academy
Athletic Media Relations
Contact: Melissa McKeown
(719) 333-9025

March 5, 2005

Air Force Downed, 15-6, By #11 Towson

Denver, Colo. – Despite a personal-best 20 saves by goalkeeper Justin Pavoni (Jr., Park City, Utah), the Air Force lacrosse team fell to 11th-ranked Towson, 15-6, Saturday on the first day of the Pioneer Face-Off Classic, hosted by Denver. With the loss, the Falcons fall to 1-1 on the season, while the Tigers improve to 2-0.

The first period was a hard-fought battle, as both teams went scoreless for the opening 15 minutes. The Falcons won the only face-off of the period, stayed even on ground balls with 10 per team and outshot the Tigers 15-7 in the opening period. However, Towson’s Bobby Griebe was the first to find the net the second period, as the Tigers rattled off four unanswered goals. Air Force did manage two goals in the final two and a half minutes of the first half, but Towson still was able to take a 5-2 lead at the break.

Air Force scored first after intermission, as sophomore Justin Kuchta (Ridgefield, Conn.) went unassisted less than a minute into the third period. However, the Tigers dominated the rest of the period, scoring six straight goals, while outshooting the Falcons 17-3. Towson also won all nine face-offs in the quarter and picked up 13 ground balls to Air Force’s two.

The final period, like the first, was evenly contested, but it was not enough for the Falcons. Air Force cut the margin to 13-6 with an even-man goal at the 4:19 mark, but Towson notched two more before the end of regulation to account for the final 15-6 score.

In addition to being outshot 50-33 for the game, the Falcons gave up a 52-34 advantage on ground balls, and won just 6-of-25 face-offs.

Pavoni was outstanding in goal for Air Force, notching 20 saves while adding 10 ground balls. On the offensive end, six different players scored for the Falcons, as sophomore Will Meister (Denver, Colo.), Kuchta, Kevin Crumrine (Fr., Edgewater, Md.), Kevin Krieger (Jr., Chandler, Ariz.), John Smith (Jr., Hicksville, N.Y.) and Michael Kennedy (Sr., Manhasset, N.Y.) each found the back of the net. In addition, Meister and Kuchta, along with senior Tim Hade (Franklin Lake, N.J.), added assists for Air Force.

Leading scorers for the Tigers were Jonathan Engelke with four goals and an assist, Kyle Fiat with three goals and an assist and Griebe with two goals and two assists. Meanwhile, Reed Sothoron tallied 12 saves in just over 55 minutes of action.

The Falcons return to action tomorrow when they face Lafayette in the final game of the Pioneer Face-Off Classic. The game is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. at Barton Lacrosse Stadium.


#11 Towson 15, Air Force 6
Towson Scoring: Goals: Jonathan Engelke 4, Kyle Fiat 3, Bobby Griebe 2, Brian Vetter, Keith Obloj, Adam Hagelin, Todd MacMullan, Ryan Preuss, Oliver Bacon. Assists: Bobby Griebe 2, Casey Cittadino, Jonathan Engelke, Keith Obloj, Brian Vetter.
Air Force Scoring: Goals: Will Meister, Justin Kuchta, Kevin Crumrine, Kevin Krieger, John Smith, Michael Kennedy. Assists: Tim Hade, Justin Kuchta, Will Meister.
-30-

Air Force Downed, 15-6, By #11 Towson

U.S. Air Force Academy
Athletic Media Relations
Contact: Melissa McKeown
(719) 333-9025

March 5, 2005

Air Force Downed, 15-6, By #11 Towson

Denver, Colo. – Despite a personal-best 20 saves by goalkeeper Justin Pavoni (Jr., Park City, Utah), the Air Force lacrosse team fell to 11th-ranked Towson, 15-6, Saturday on the first day of the Pioneer Face-Off Classic, hosted by Denver. With the loss, the Falcons fall to 1-1 on the season, while the Tigers improve to 2-0.

The first period was a hard-fought battle, as both teams went scoreless for the opening 15 minutes. The Falcons won the only face-off of the period, stayed even on ground balls with 10 per team and outshot the Tigers 15-7 in the opening period. However, Towson’s Bobby Griebe was the first to find the net the second period, as the Tigers rattled off four unanswered goals. Air Force did manage two goals in the final two and a half minutes of the first half, but Towson still was able to take a 5-2 lead at the break.

Air Force scored first after intermission, as sophomore Justin Kuchta (Ridgefield, Conn.) went unassisted less than a minute into the third period. However, the Tigers dominated the rest of the period, scoring six straight goals, while outshooting the Falcons 17-3. Towson also won all nine face-offs in the quarter and picked up 13 ground balls to Air Force’s two.

The final period, like the first, was evenly contested, but it was not enough for the Falcons. Air Force cut the margin to 13-6 with an even-man goal at the 4:19 mark, but Towson notched two more before the end of regulation to account for the final 15-6 score.

In addition to being outshot 50-33 for the game, the Falcons gave up a 52-34 advantage on ground balls, and won just 6-of-25 face-offs.

Pavoni was outstanding in goal for Air Force, notching 20 saves while adding 10 ground balls. On the offensive end, six different players scored for the Falcons, as sophomore Will Meister (Denver, Colo.), Kuchta, Kevin Crumrine (Fr., Edgewater, Md.), Kevin Krieger (Jr., Chandler, Ariz.), John Smith (Jr., Hicksville, N.Y.) and Michael Kennedy (Sr., Manhasset, N.Y.) each found the back of the net. In addition, Meister and Kuchta, along with senior Tim Hade (Franklin Lake, N.J.), added assists for Air Force.

Leading scorers for the Tigers were Jonathan Engelke with four goals and an assist, Kyle Fiat with three goals and an assist and Griebe with two goals and two assists. Meanwhile, Reed Sothoron tallied 12 saves in just over 55 minutes of action.

The Falcons return to action tomorrow when they face Lafayette in the final game of the Pioneer Face-Off Classic. The game is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. at Barton Lacrosse Stadium.


#11 Towson 15, Air Force 6
Towson Scoring: Goals: Jonathan Engelke 4, Kyle Fiat 3, Bobby Griebe 2, Brian Vetter, Keith Obloj, Adam Hagelin, Todd MacMullan, Ryan Preuss, Oliver Bacon. Assists: Bobby Griebe 2, Casey Cittadino, Jonathan Engelke, Keith Obloj, Brian Vetter.
Air Force Scoring: Goals: Will Meister, Justin Kuchta, Kevin Crumrine, Kevin Krieger, John Smith, Michael Kennedy. Assists: Tim Hade, Justin Kuchta, Will Meister.
-30-

The Air Force lacrosse team heads to Denver this weekend

The Air Force lacrosse team heads to Denver this weekend, March 5-6, for the Pioneer Face-Off Classic, hosted by the University of Denver. The Falcons take on 11th-ranked Towson on Saturday, before facing Lafayette on Sunday. Both games are slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. at Barton Lacrosse Stadium.


Last Time Out...
Air Force opened its season last weekend at VMI, taking a 12-8 victory over the host Keydets.
After trailing early in the game and tying the score at 2-2 at the end of the first period, the Falcons outscored VMI 4-1 in the second quarter to take a 6-3 lead at the half.
Air Force continued to dominate in the second half, leading by as many as five before the Keydets scored a goal with just six seconds remaining in the contest to bring the final score to 12-8.
Leading the way for the Falcons were sophomore Conrad Lochocki, who erupted for five goals, and sophomore Will Meister, who tallied one goal and four assists. Meanwhile, junior Justin Pavoni notched 13 saves and 10 ground balls in goal.


Scouting the Tigers...
Towson, currently ranked 11th in the Inside Lacrosse media poll, is 1-0 after notching a 7-5 come-from-behind victory against #16 Loyola in its season opener.
Seven different players scored goals for the Tigers in the victory, while goalkeeper Reed Sothoron tallied seven saves. In addition, Matt Eckerl won 11-of-15 face-offs to give Towson an extra advantage.


In the Series...
The Falcons and Tigers have met just once before, a 17-5 victory by Towson in 1980.


Scouting the Leopards...
Lafayette, which will face Denver on the first day of the Pioneer Face-Off Classic, currently has an 0-1 record, falling 11-3 in its season opener versus Drexel.
Scoring for the Leopards in their first game of the season were Jon Paulson, Bart Seifert and Sean Burek. Sophomore goalkeeper Chris Rosa had nine saves in his first career start, while freshman Ryan Caso notched eight saves in just over 23 minutes of action.


In the Series...
This weekend’s contest is the first-ever meeting between the Falcons and the Leopards.


How We Rate...
After one week of play, sophomores Conrad Lochocki and Will Meister are two of four players who lead the Great Western Lacrosse League in points per game with 5. Junior goalkeeper Justin Pavoni is second in the league in ground balls per game with 10, while Jordan Kemp is fourth with 7. Pavoni also ranks fourth in the conference in save percentage with a .617.


Season Openers...
Air Force’s victory over VMI last weekend helped the Falcons improve to 27-12 all-time in season openers. Air Force has now won three of its last four season openers, including a 7-6 victory over top-ranked defending national champion Virginia last year.


Falcons In The Polls...
Air Force is receiving votes in the latest media poll, released by Inside Lacrosse.
The first official USILA poll of the season will be released on March 7.


Up Next...
The Falcons open the 2005 home slate next Thursday, March 10, when it hosts Penn at 3:00 p.m.

Megan Carver Earns MPSF Player of the Week - The freshman tallied 11 points off eight goals and three assists last week

WOMEN’S LACROSSE NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 1, 2005

Megan Carver Earns MPSF Player of the Week - The freshman tallied 11 points off eight goals and three assists last week

WOODLAND, Calif. – Freshman Megan Carver (Baltimore, Md.) was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Week it was announced today by league officials. Carver had 11 points off eight goals and three assists last week.

The freshman recorded six goals, including the game winner and an assist in Denver’s 17-12 win over Oregon. She continued her breakout season with two goals and two assists in the Pioneers’ game against No. 3 Northwestern.

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, March 5, at 4 p.m., when they host MPSF rival California at the new Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.