Army Drops Season Opener to No. 19 Air Force, 2-1

Saturday, August 31

West Point, NY

7 PM

Army West Point

0-0-0, 0-0-0

No. 19 Air Force

0-0-0, 0-0-0

Air Force

Army West Point

Army Drops Season Opener to No. 19 Air Force, 2-1

August 31, 2019 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Despite a game-tying strike in the second half by Christian Takaki, the Army West Point men's soccer team was unable to take down its service academy foe No. 19 Air Force and ultimately fell, 2-1, on Saturday night at Malek Stadium at Clinton Field.

Both the Black Knights (0-1) and Falcons (1-0) reached double-digit shots in the match, but Air Force was able to convert on two to secure the road win. Army generated 11 corners compared to the Falcons 2 but could not find the back on any of the opportunities.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Takaki scored the second goal of his career.
Freshman D'Anthony Brown made the first start of his collegiate career.
Linden Eberle, Sam Epitime and Cooper Warren also saw action for the first time in their careers.
Justin Stoll made four saves in between the pipes, including three in the second half.
Tyler Mitchiner placed two of his three shots on goal.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Air Force was first to score, and it came in the 26th minute. James D'Emidio got a hold of a bouncing ball just outside the box and bent a shot around an Army defender and past a diving Stoll into the bottom right corner of the net.
Trailing 1-0 in the 62nd minute, a ball was sent into the box that an Air Force defender could not get a decent touch on, which allowed Takaki to come sprinting in and send a booming strike that went right past a nearly frozen Falcons goalkeeper.
The score did not remain even for long though as Air Force came charging back with a score four minutes later. It was a breakaway for the Falcons that was slowed down inside the Army box, but Alec Young put a soft touch on the ball and Tristan Trager turned and ripped a shot inside the far post for the goal.

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