Falcons Drop 7-3 Contest To No. 14 Denver In Season Finale (4/29/06)

Falcons Drop 7-3 Contest To No. 14 Denver In Season Finale

USAFA, Colo. - Despite a strong second-half defensive effort, the Air Force lacrosse team lost, 7-3, to No. 14 Denver Saturday afternoon at Cadet Lacrosse Stadium. With the defeat, the Falcons finish the season at 7-9, 2-3 in the GWLL, while the Pioneers improve to 12-4 on the year, 5-0 in league play.

Denver, which entered the contest with the nation’s fifth-highest scoring offense at 11.27 goals per contest, led 5-1 at the end of the opening period, with freshman Griffin Nevitt (Charlotte, N.C.) scoring the lone goal for Air Force. The Pioneers extended their lead to 7-1 in the second quarter, but Air Force junior Will Meister (Denver, Colo.) scored on a man-up goal with 2:37 remaining in the half to put the Falcons back on the board.

Nevitt scored once more early in the third period, this time on an assist from Meister, to cut the deficit to four, but neither team was able to find the net again in the game, which was characterized by physical play and strong defense. Both teams also struggled to get offensive opportunities in the second half, with the Falcons struggling to clear the ball, while the Pioneers turned it over 20 times after intermission.

Air Force held a slight edge on ground balls, 28-24, but the Pioneers outshot the Falcons 27-18 for the game. Senior Justin Pavoni (Park City, Utah), the defending GWLL Goalkeeper of the Year, notched 10 saves in his final game for Air Force, bringing his career total to 464 saves in just three years, while also grabbing eight ground balls.

For the Pioneers, Joe Murray led the team with two goals, while Geoff Snider, Eric Covey and Brandon Barcus each added a goal and an assist each. Snider, the nation’s top face-off specialist, also won 9-of-14 face-offs, while scooping up six ground balls.

Denver 7, Air Force 3
Denver Scoring: Goals: Joe Murray 2, Geoff Snider, Eric Covey, Brandon Barcus, Adam Goodwin, Jon Paulson. Assists: Brandon Barcus, Eric Covey, Adam Miller, Geoff Snider, Ryan Zordani.
Air Force Scoring: Goals: Griffin Nevitt 2, Will Meister. Assists: Will Meister.