Marcus Ward’s four goals led the Falcons to a 15-10 victory over Canisius, Saturday afternoon, at the University of Denver’s Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Eight Falcons registered goals in the victory, with hat tricks from Ward and Chris Walsch. The Falcons improve to 2-2 heading into tomorrow’s game with Cleveland State. Air Force dominated the first period of play, outscoring the Griffs, 4-1, taking 14 shots to Canisius’ two. Freshman attacker Matthew Schwartz was the first to strike, logging his first career goal from Cameron Carter’s assist. Marcus Ward logged two unassisted goals while Andrew Tien found Grant Gould for his fourth goal of the season. The Griffs’ Connor Kearnan put Canisius on the board with a goal at four minutes remaining in the first period. Air Force continued the roll into the second period, adding four more goals to the scoresheet. Carter and Jack Flynn logged their first goals of the season in unassisted attacks. Walsch netted two of his own with an unassisted goal in a man-up opportunity and one from Nick Hruby’s feed with 35 seconds remaining in the half. Steven Coss added another goal for the Griffs while Kearnan logged his second goal. Canisius entered halftime trailing, 8-3. The Falcons peppered the Griffs’ cage with 32 first-half shots while holding Canisius to five shots. Air Force dominated at face-off, winning 10 of 13, and picking up 22 ground balls to Canisius’ 12. Air Force exploded in the third period adding six goals to the scoresheet. Hruby got his first goal of the game with a feed from Walsch in a man-up opportunity. Walsch followed up with his hat trick goal from Joe Matarazzo’s assist. Ward and Austin Smith followed up with a goal apiece in their unassisted attacks on the goal. Flynn tallied his second assist of the game after finding an open Ward for his fourth goal. Gould tallied his second goal with four seconds remaining in the third period. The Griffs’ Mario Caito and Lewis Vaccaro logged their first goals in the third period. Air Force led Canisius, 14-5, going into the fourth period. Canisius ignited in the fourth period, outscoring the Falcons, 5-1. Coss rattled off three goals in a three-minute span, tallying four goals on the day. Kearnan added another while Carter Stefaniak logged his first goal. Hruby was the only Falcon to score in the fourth period; he had two on the game. At the final whistle, Air Force led, 15-10. The Falcons took twice as many shots on the game with 42 to the Griffs’ 21. Air Force controlled the face-offs and ground balls, winning 18-29 face-offs and scooping up 38 ground balls while Canisius picked up 29. The Falcons went 2-3 in extra-man opportunities. Sean LaVine registered a season-high three caused turnovers in his defensive performance. Freshman goalkeeper Paxton Boyer registered three saves in his second win of the season. Fitzhugh Lee also made his debut appearance in the Falcons cage in the final six minutes. Hruby and Walsch continued their scoring streak with goals in all four games this season. Hruby leads the team in goals with nine while Walsch is second with eight. Ward’s four goals mark a personal career-best; he has five on the season.