Men's Soccer Tops Air Force in Season Opener

Friday, August 26

West Point, N.Y.

7 PM

Army West Point

Air Force

Men's Soccer Tops Air Force in Season Opener

August 26, 2016 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point men's soccer team struck for two unanswered goals in the second half to top service academy-rival Air Force, 3-1, in the season opener for both teams on Friday evening at Clinton Field.

The Black Knights begin the year 1-0 for the first time since 2013, while the Falcons slip to 0-1 to start their 2016 campaign.

Seniors Christian Clark and Nick Williams each provided goals for Army and freshman Tyler Mitchiner opened his scoring account in his first collegiate game. Williams netted the game winner in the 82nd minute before Mitchiner scored 1:04 later in the 83rd minute to seal the victory for the Cadets.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army improves to 16-8-4 all-time versus Air Force after the win.
Army held a decided advantage in possession during the victory, especially in the second half. The Black Knights used that possession advantage to outshoot the visitors, 12-4, in the second period.
Williams scored the 10th goal of his career and Clark found the back of the net for the third time. Clark also added an assist on Williams' game-winning strike.
Senior Alex Jaroscak provided the assist on Army's first goal of the evening.
Army's three goals match its season high for each of the past four seasons.
Junior Christian Nolasco stopped two shots during the first start of his career.
The Black Knights and the Falcons squared off in the season-opening match for the second year in a row after Air Force prevailed for a 1-0 double-overtime win at USAFA, Colo., last season.
Freshmen Rex Epps, Alex Grave de Peralta, Zac McGraw, Peter Meyer, Tyler Mitchiner, Keenan O'Shea and Zane Rojas all made their career debuts.
Epps, McGraw, Meyer and O'Shea earned their first college starts.

TURNING POINTS

The Black Knights capitalized on a straight red card to Air Force in the 69th minute, with back-to-back goals from Williams and Mitchiner in the 82nd and 83rd minutes, respectively.
Clark answered an early Air Force goal with a tally of his own in the 21st minute to knot the game at 1-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Air Force's Abinadi Samayoa opened the scoresheet after connecting on a long pass from goalkeeper John Wendt to put the Falcons up 1-0 in the 12th minute.
Clark ran in a straight line down the left side to collect a pass from Jaroscak and score in the 21st minute.
Williams dribbled through a series of defenders to score after receiving a cross from Clark in the 82nd minute.
Mitchiner took advantage of a breakdown in the Air Force defense, as he intercepted a clearing chance to score in the 83rd minute.

UP NEXT

Army returns to the field in just two days when it hosts LIU Brooklyn on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Blackbirds fell, 4-1, at Siena in their season opener on Friday night.