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Reporting A Score? | | | | | Archives | | |
| | | |  |  | | Army | 11 | | Air Force | 10 | | | | Scoring: | Scoring: | Jim Wagner
John Walker
Jeff Bryan
Jake Couch
Matt Luyster
Marko Kostovic
Geoff Costa
Jon Burton
Chris Couch
| (2, 1)
(3, 0)
(1, 2)
(1, 1)
(1, 0)
(1, 0)
(1, 0)
(1, 0)
(0, 1)
| Justin Kuchta
William Keleher
William Meister
Greg Dangler
Michael Colosimo
Dj Benzing
John Smith
| (4, 0)
(2, 1)
(2, 1)
(0, 3)
(1, 0)
(0, 1)
(1, 0)
| | | | Saves: | Saves: | Matt Darak
| 15 (0.600)
| Justin Pavoni
| 17 (0.607)
| | | | Current Record : (1-1) | Current Record : (2-1) | | | | Team Page For 2004 | Team Page For 2004 | | | | | | The Game Story: | WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army scored twice in the final two minutes of the fourth
quarter and then ripped the game-winner 48 seconds into overtime to rally
past No. 14 Air Force, 11-10, Saturday afternoon in front of 1,249 fans at
Shea Stadium. It was the 11th consecutive victory over the Falcons for the
Black Knights, who remain perfect against their service-academy rivals in
the overall series.
Jeff Bryan raced down the far sideline, throwing a laser past Air Force
goalie Justin Pavoni to cut a two-goal Falcons lead in half with 2 minutes,
4 seconds left in the contest. John Walker then completed the comeback in an
unsettled situation in front of the Air Force cage. The preseason
All-American scooped up a loose ball after his initial shot was blocked and
bounced a shot past Pavoni with just 36 ticks left on the game clock.
From there, Erik Mineo won the overtime faceoff and Jake Couch won the game
with his second goal of the game 48 seconds into the extra session. It
marked the second straight year that the Black Knights sent the Falcons home
disappointed on an overtime winner. Last season, Chris Woods buried a shot
in double OT, lifting Army to an 8-7 victory.
Mineo was credited with 11 wins on the faceoff in 14 attempts. Army held a
16-9 advantage on the draw overall.
"We thought Mineo was getting the best of (Air Force faceoff middie Greg
Kantz) all day," Emmer said. "And the overtime faceoff is always very
important."
Army (1-1) controlled the draw with Mineo winning the ball forward and
scooping up the grounder himself. He handed off to Bryan, who patiently
waited inside the box for his midfielders to change up. The ball swung all
the way around the perimeter and behind the goal until it came back to Bryan
on the near side. He broke to his left and started back behind the cage,
when Bryan spotted Couch 18 feet in front just to the right of Pavoni. The
birthday boy let it rip, beating Pavoni knee-high just inside far post.
Couch, who turned 21 Saturday along with twin brother Chris, finished with
one goal and one assist. Chris Couch picked up an assist on his birthday as
well.
Walker finished with his second hat trick in as many games and ninth of his
career. Walker has now scored a goal in 15 consecutive games and leads the
team in scoring this season with seven goals. Bryan added two assists to his
fourth-quarter goal. Jim Wagner scored twice in the third quarter and
registered an assist.
Air Force (2-1) had seemingly taken control of the match midway through the
final quarter, scoring three of the first four goals in the fourth to open
up a 10-8 lead with six minutes left. However, the Black Knights would not
quit and Bryan converted a costly Falcons' turnover into a goal with two
minutes to go.
"The win is a testament to this group," Emmer said. "They persevered at the
end and performed in the clutch."
Army took its only lead in regulation (7-6) in the third quarter when Wagner
finished off a three-goal run over a two-minute span to put the Black
Knights in front. The southpaw sandwiched goals around Jon Burton's second
of the season to give the hosts the advantage.
After a four-goal spurt gave the momentum back to the visitors, Army
countered with a beautiful individual effort by defenseman Matt Luyster to
draw the Black Knights to within one, 9-8. Luyster picked up his first
collegiate goal when he traversed the length of the field on a clear and
darted to the cage unmarked. The Falcons defense finally slid to cover the
Army long stick, however, Luyster cut in front of Pavoni and shoveled an
underhand shot past the Falcons' goalie at 9:45 of the fourth quarter.
Air Force was led by Justin Kuchta's four goals. William Keleher and William
Meister each scored twice and posted an assist.
Matt Darak made 15 saves in the cage for the Black Knights to even his
record at 1-1 on the year. Pavoni stopped 17 shots.
Army opens its Patriot League slate Tuesday evening with a faceoff versus
Holy Cross at Shea Stadium at 7 p.m.
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