The Air Force lacrosse team (3-6) concludes its 2005 home slate this week

The Air Force lacrosse team (3-6) concludes its 2005 home slate this week, as it hosts GWLL opponents Butler and Ohio State. The Falcons take on Butler at 3:00 p.m.. on Friday, April 22, and will face Ohio State at noon on Sunday, April 24. Both games will take place at Cadet Lacrosse Stadium.


Last Time Out…
A dismal first-half performance was too much to overcome as the Falcons fell, 14-5, to host North Carolina last week in non-conference action.

Air Force had trouble keeping control of the ball on the slippery, rain-soaked grass at Fetzer Field and, as a result, fell behind 10-0 at the break.

The Falcons got on board immediately in the third period, as D.J. Benzing scored directly off the opening face-off. However, Air Force would never threaten, despite outscoring the Tar Heels in the second half.

Justin Pavoni had a solid performance in goal for the Falcons, tallying 13 saves and 12 ground balls. Freshman Conrad Lochocki led the offensive attack with two goals, while Benzing and Will Meister added a goal and an assist each.


How We Rate...
In the latest edition of national statistics released by the NCAA (through games on April 17), Air Force goalkeeper Justin Pavoni ranks fourth in the nation in ground balls with 7.67 per game.

Meanwhile, sophomore attackman Will Meister is also in the national rankings, rated 11th in the country in assists per game with 1.89.

As a team, the Falcons, who have converted on their last five straight extra-man opportunities, rank 11th in the nation in man-up offense at .371.


Scouting the Bulldogs...
Butler, which enters this week’s contest with a 4-5 overall record and is 0-2 in league action, is coming off a difficult 19-1 loss to Princeton.

The Tigers, who played four different goalkeepers in the contest, allowed only 12 shots by the Bulldogs. The lone scorer for Butler in the game was sophomore Pat Hurto.

Grant Albertson is the team’s leading scorer, with 16 goals and five assists (21 points) on the season, while Cliff Smith follows with 19 points (13 goals, six assists).


In the Series...
The Falcons are 3-8 all-time against Butler, and have won two in a row in the series, which began in 1994.


Last Year vs. Butler...
Air Force rolled to a 13-6 victory over the Bulldogs last season, led by a career performance by junior D.J. Benzing. Benzing tallied eight points on four goals and four assists in the final conference matchup of the year for the Falcons, marking the highest single-game point total for an individual in head coach Fred Acee’s seven years.


Scouting the Buckeyes...
Ohio State currently holds a 4-5 overall record, 1-0 in the GWLL, and will face Denver Friday before heading to the Academy on Sunday.

In its last contest, Ohio State rolled to an 18-5 victory over winless Robert Morris. The Buckeyes utilized a balanced attack,as four different players scored two goals each, and 16 different Buckeyes tallied at least one point in the game.

On the season, Kyle Olson leads the team with 18 points (14 goals, four assists), while Ben Wolff is right behind with 17 points (14 goals, three assists). Eric O’Brien, the face-off specialist for the Buckeyes, has a team-high 56 ground balls, and ranks third in the GWLL with 6.22 per contest. O’Brien also ranks third in the league in face-off percentage, winning 89 of 155 (.574).


How They Rate...
In the latest NCAA statistical reports, Ohio State ranks 12th in the country in face-off percentage (.585), 13th in man-up offense (.353) and 19th in scoring offense (10.0).

The Buckeyes also have individuals rated in two categories. Eric O’Brien ranks 11th in ground balls per game (6.22), while Mike Rimmer is 18th in save percentage at .584.


In the Series...
The Falcons hold a 9-10 all-time record against Ohio State, but have lost seven in a row to the Buckeyes. The last Air Force victory was a 14-13 win in 1997.


Last Year vs. Ohio State...
The Falcons struggled offensively against the eighth-ranked Buckeyes last season, dropping a 9-2 decision to the host team. Junior D.J. Benzing and senior William Keleher scored the lone goals for Air Force in the game.


AF In The GWLL Rankings...
In the latest rankings released by the GWLL on April 19, 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 7.67, while also leading the conference in saves with 12.22 pg. Sophomore Will Meister ranks second in the GWLL in both assists (1.89) and points (3.22) per game. In goals per game, sophomore Conrad Lochocki is third with 2.33, while senior co-captain D.J. Benzing ranks third in assists per game with 1.22.


Sayonara, Seniors...
Sunday’s game versus Ohio State marks the final home appearance for five Air Force seniors—co-captains D.J. Benzing and Tim Hade, along with Jared Brush, Jeffrey Jablonski and Michael Kennedy. The seniors, along with their parents, will be honored in a brief ceremony prior to the noon contest.


Up Next...
The Falcons conclude their season next Saturday, April 30, as they travel to intra-state rival Denver in GWLL action. The contest is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Barton Lacrosse Stadium.