Falcons Head To Pioneer Face-Off Classic (2.28.07)

The Air Force lacrosse team returns to action this weekend, March 3-4, at the Pioneer Face-Off Classic, hosted by Denver. The Falcons will take on 19th-ranked UMBC in the first game of the weekend, followed by a match-up with Villanova on Sunday. Both Air Force contests are slated to begin at 11:00 a.m.


Scouting the Falcons...
Air Force, now receiving votes in the latest Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll, opened up the 2007 season last weekend with an 11-7 win over Siena.

The Falcons were led against the Saints by senior attackman Conrad Lochocki, who tallied five goals and an assist, while captain Will Meister added one goal and four assists. In addition, senior goalkeeper Dan Bellissimo tallied 15 saves in the win for the Falcons.


Head Coach Fred Acee...
Air Force head coach Fred Acee is in his 10th season at the helm of the Falcons’ program and his 40th season overall as a collegiate lacrosse coach.

A 1963 graduate of Cortland State, Acee coached at SUNY-Farmingdale, a two-year college on Long Island, for 30 years, compiling an overall mark of 312-119-1 and advancing to the NJCAA Final Four 25 times. Since Acee’s arrival at the Academy in the fall of 1997, the Falcons have yearly played top notch Division I schedules, compiling a record of 33-85.


Scouting the Retrievers...
UMBC, ranked 19th in the latest Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll, enters the weekend with a 1-0 record after picking up a 12-11 overtime win against Brown.

Midfielder Terry Kimener led the Retrievers in the win over Brown with three goals and three assists, while attackman Drew Westervelt added two goals and two assists for UMBC.

UMBC is coached by Don Zimmerman (Johns Hopkins, ‘76), who has compiled a 91-85 mark in his 14th year at the helm of the Retrievers’ program and a career ledger of 164-100 (21st year).


Scouting the Wildcats...
Villanova currently holds a 1-1 record on the season, winning its season opener versus Lafayette while falling to Penn. The Wildcats will face Denver before playing Air Force on Sunday.

Matt German is Villanova’s leading scorer with three goals and one assist, while Chris MacDonald has added one goal and three assists on the season. Goalkeeper Andrew DiLoretto is averaging 12 saves per game in the first two contests of the year.

Villanova is coached by Michael Corrado (Villanova, ‘87), in his first season at the helm of the Wildcats’ program.


In the Series...
This weekend, Air Force and UMBC meet for the ninth time in the series, with the Retrievers holding an 8-1 advantage over the Falcons. UMBC won last year’s contest, a 9-5 decision in Baltimore.

Air Force and Villanova will meet for the 10th time in their series, with the Wildcats leading 7-2. Villanova won the last contest between the two teams, an 11-6 decision at Villanova.


Up Next...
The Falcons travel to the West Coast next weekend, March 10, to take part in the third-annual First 4. The event, being held at Torero Stadium in San Diego, Calif., will feature a match-up between Air Force and Yale in the first game, following by a meeting between Duke and Loyola.