PHOENIX – A header in the closing 2nd of regulation play pushed Air Force past UTRGV, a person-nil, in the 1st spherical of the Western Athletic Conference match, Wednesday evening, at GCU Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. For the second-straight yr, Air Force (10-7-1) eradicated the Vaqueros (8-9) from the playoff event.
The Falcons dominated the initial-50 percent possessions, outshooting the Vaqueros, 9-2, with four shots on concentrate on to UTRGV’s one. Air Force took 5 corner kick makes an attempt, placing two pictures on concentrate on from corner expert services. The Falcons’ Lathan Spadafora led the industry with three pictures in the to start with 45.
The Vaqueros uncovered a superior rhythm in the second half, creating extra alternatives to strike on the Air Pressure frame. UTRGV outshot Air Pressure, 7-5, in the 2nd-half.
Equally teams took nine corner kicks, but it was the Falcons’ past two that would the seal their fate. With additional time seeming inevitable, the Falcons lined up for a corner kick on the far aspect at the 89:30 mark. Just after some volleys and a higher shot try that the UTRGV keeper brushed with his hand, Air Power won one more corner kick.
Falcon senior Michael Neacsu, figuring out the clock was ticking down, sprinted to accumulate the ball and continued to fight by a group of gamers, racing to the corner to kick off one last established piece. The ball was airborne at the 89:53 mark in which Air Force major men Tyler Johnson and Jake Chaffetz lifted off to receive. It was Chaffetz who created the productive head contact, just out of the UTRGV keepers’ attain, hitting the recreation-winner with just a solitary tick remaining on the clock.
At the remaining horn, the Falcons took 14 photographs to UTRGV’s 9. Spadafora led the offense with four shots, two on goal.
The Air Force defense in London Aghedo, Chaffetz, Johnson, and Jared Dove, clocked 90 minutes of motion just about every. Senior goalie Kainoa Likewise designed 4 saves on the evening, securing his fourth shutout this period.
“The complete was nothing at all like we drew up,” head mentor Doug Hill smirked. “I assumed we should have set it away in the 1st 50 percent but we just didn’t. Credit rating to UTRGV, they came out potent in the next fifty percent and had some fantastic operates. I’m pleased for the boys, they place in a whole lot of get the job done this year and they secured the shutout which was a goal of ours. They’ve labored so really hard and they gained this.”
“We’re likely to get pleasure from the get for tonight,” Hill ongoing. “But we are likely to swap gears tomorrow and get all set for our next match versus Seattle U.”
Up upcoming, Air Drive will take on next-seed Seattle U in the semifinals on Friday, November 12. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. MT, at GCU Stadium.
