Air Force Academy

April 14, 2010

The Air Force lacrosse team wraps up its three-game homestand this weekend, April 17, as it hosts 18th-ranked Fairfield in an ECAC contest. The game is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Cadet Lacrosse Stadium. Live stats will be available for the game at goairforcefalcons.com.

Last Time Out...
The Falcons dropped a pair of close league contests at home last weekend, falling to Quinnipiac, 8-6, and Bellarmine, 11-10.

Against the Bobcats, team captains Ridge Flick  and Vinny Sandtorv each scored two goals and an assist, while junior Zack Carroll added a goal and two assists. Meanwhile, against the Knights, Sandtorv (2g, 2a) and sophomore Adam Paranka (1g, 3a) led the Falcons with four points each, while Flick was the leading goal-scorer with three tallies.

Scouting the Falcons...
Air Force enters this weekend's contest with a 1-9 overall record and 0-3 mark in the ECAC Lacrosse League.

Junior Zack Carroll is the Falcons' leading scorer on the season with 24 points, including a team-best 16 goals. Senior Ridge Flick (11g, 10a) and sophomore Adam Paranka (10g, 11a) are second on the team with 21 points each, while Vinny Sandtorv has added 19 points (14g, 5a).

Scouting the Stags...
Fairfield, ranked 18th in the latest USILA Coaches Poll and 19th in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll, currently holds a 7-3 overall record and 3-1 ledger in the ECAC. The Stags defeated Hartford, 12-9, in non-conference action Tuesday afternoon.

The Stags are coached by Andrew Copelan, in his second year at the helm of the program. Freshman Sam Snow is the team's leading scorer with 22 points on the year, including a team-high 11 assists, while John Snellman and Brent Adams are Fairfield's top goal scorers with 12 each. On the defensive end, goalkeeper Joe Marra holds a 7.32 goals against average and .617 save percentage.

Air Force in the Statistical Rankings...
In the latest national statistical rankings released by the NCAA (through games of April 11), Air Force ranks in the top 35 in a pair of team categories. The Falcons rank 20th in caused turnovers per game (8.5) and are 31st in scoring defense (10.3).

In addition, the Falcons have a few players who are ranked among the top 30 nationally in various individual statistical categories. Junior defenseman Bryan Gilbreath leads the ECAC and is sixth in the nation in caused turnovers per game (2.2) and is 10th in the nation (and second in the conference) in ground balls per game (5.5). Benson Oldmixon is tied for 21st nationally in caused turnovers per game (1.63), while goalkeeper Brian Wilson ranks 28th in the country in goals against average (10.08).

How They Rate...
Through games of April 11, Fairfield ranks in the top 20 in the nation in scoring defense (4th/7.56), man-down defense (T12th/.730), man-up offense (16th/.414), saves per game (16th/11.56), scoring margin (19th/1.56) and win percentage (T19th/.667).

The Stags are led individually by goalkeeper Joe Marra, who ranks second nationally in save percentage (.613) and fourth in goals against average (7.42). In addition, Drew Palmer is tied for 23rd in caused turnovers per game (1.63), while Steve Golmont ranks 30th in face-off win percentage (.534).

Making the Saves...
Sophomore Matt Sanders had a pair of strong performances between the pipes for Air Force in its games against Quinnipiac and Bellarmine last weekend. Sanders played the final three periods against the Bobcats, posting a .750 save percentage with nine saves and allowing just three goals in 45 minutes. Starting his first game of the season against the Knights, Sanders recorded a career-best 13 saves while posting a .542 save percentage.

In the past two games combined, Sanders has recorded a save percentage of .611 and an 8.0 goals against average.

Sharing the Wealth...
In its two games against Quinnipiac and Bellarmine last weekend, Air Force had several players stand out offensively. Versus the Bobcats, three different players--Zack Carroll, Ridge Flick and Vinny Sandtorv--tallied three points each, while sophomore Adam Paranka added two points.

Meanwhile, against the Knights, Paranka and Sandtorv each posted four points, followed by Flick with three and Carroll with two. Paranka's three assists in the game were a career-high, while Sandtorv and Flick matched career-best marks with two assists and three goals, respectively.

Up Next...
The Falcons hit the road next weekend, April 24, to face ECAC rival Ohio State in this year's "Showdown in the Shoe." The game, which is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. (ET), will be held in Ohio Stadium prior to the Buckeyes' spring football game.

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