Soccer: Falcons blank Army 1-0 in overtime

  • Published
  • By Jerry Cross
  • Athletic Communications
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Zane Dydasco scored the first goal of his career two minutes and 16 seconds into the first overtime period Saturday night to lift the Air Force men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over service academy rival Army before a capacity crowd of 2,132 at Cadet Soccer Stadium. 

Air Force, off to its best start since the 2004 campaign, improved to 3-1-1 this season, while Army fell to 1-6. 

Dydasco, from Honolulu, Hawaii, created a free kick for the Falcons early in the overtime period when he was knocked to the ground just outside the Army penalty box. With the Army defense still getting set for the kick, Air Force senior Kevin Rosser placed the ball and sent a short pass to Dydasco, who was streaking into the box and put a shot from eight yards out past Army goalkeeper Nick Armstrong. The goal set off a raucous celebration that ended in front of the packed Air Force stands. 

Rosser collected his fourth assist of the season and has an assist in each of his last four games. 

Air Force dominated the field from the start, putting three shots on goal in the first 15 minutes, including a point-blank shot from 10 yards out by senior Steven Noller that forced Alexander to make a diving save. The Falcons outshot Army 9-4 in the first half and had an 11-2 advantage in the second half, partially due to Army playing a man down after Bryan Connolly received a red card in the 26th minute after a hard foul against AFA's Eric Wilson. 

Including Dydasco's game-winner, the Falcons outshot Army 21-6 in total shots and 6-2 in shots on goal. Air Force also held a 14-2 advantage in corner kicks. Armstrong came up big for Army on a couple of other shots as well, including a rocket by junior John Melcher in the 38th minute that Armstrong just got a piece of. Armstrong finished the game with five saves, while Air Force goalie senior Jim Gullo made two saves in posting his second consecutive shutout and fifth of his career. 

The Falcons head out on the road for four straight games beginning Sept. 25 at Stanford as part of the Stanford Nike Classic.