Game #15
Who | Utah Tech (2-8-4, 1-3-2 WAC) at Air Force (1-11-1, 1-4-0 WAC)
When | Thursday, Oct. 24 - 6 p.m.
Where | Cadet Soccer Stadium - USAFA, Colo.
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Tech men's soccer drew with UT Rio Grande Valley 1-1 on Sunday afternoon at Greater Zion Stadium. The first shot of the game resulted in a goal for the visitors. Vaquero junior Kimito Fritz scored on the right side of the goal with an assist by junior Sota Matsua to give UTRGV a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. Sophomore Samir Cuevas leveled the match at 1-1 when a Vaquero defender mishit the ball right to the waiting Cuevas who buried a shot to the bottom-left corner of the goal in the 21st minute. UT goalkeeper Stockton Short picked up his first save on a high shot on goal in the 36th minute. UTRGV went down a man after junior Ricardo Joasilus was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul in the 39th minute. On a UTRGV counterattack in the 56th minute, the Trailblazers notched a team save with a couple of key blocks in the box. Short notched his second save in the 58th minute with a stop down the middle and again UT earned a team save in the 59th minute with a near goal line clearance. Sophomore Manu Monserrat tried a long shot in the 64th minute that was saved down the middle. Monserrat launched another shot in the 74th minute that missed high and right. Short stood in the way of shots on target in the 74th, 78th and 79th minutes of play to keep the match level. He finished with five saves in the match. Utah Tech outshot UTRGV 18-14, but the Vaqueros held the edge in shots on goal, 8-7. UT Rio Grande Valley committed more fouls, 18-16, and was tabbed with the only three offsides offenses in the game. UT finished with seven saves to the Vaqueros' six. 

SCOUTING AIR FORCE
The Falcons host the Trailblazers after falling to Utah Valley 2-0 at home on Sunday. Air Force is 1-4-0 in WAC play with its lone win over Grand Canyon (2-1). Earlier this season, the Falcons earned a 1-1 draw at Michigan State.

Air Force has a balanced attack with its seven goals this season all coming from a different Falcon. Senior Carter Rizzo creates the bulk of Air Force's chances, leading the team in shots (22) and shots on goal (11). Rizzo scored his lone goal of the season at UTRGV. Falcon goalkeeper Will Collins ranks 55th in the nation in saves per game (3.80), fifth in the WAC, and 96th in the country in total saves (38), sixth in the conference. 

SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's match will be the fifth all-time meeting between UT and AF. The Falcons have a 3-1-0 advantage, but the Trailblazers won last year's contest 3-2 in St. George. The Falcons hold a 1-0-0 edge in games at the USAF Academy with a 2-0 win in 2021. 

UT BY THE NUMBERS
Utah Tech leads the WAC in saves per game (6.57), fouls per game (10.86), penalty kicks (1.000) and yellow cards (40). Nationally, Utah Tech comes in at second in saves per game (6.57), tied for seventh in yellow cards (40), tied for 10th in red cards (3), 21st in save percentage (.800) and 75th in fouls per game (10.86).

THEY CALL HIM 'STOP'-TON
Junior goalkeeper Stockton Short leads the nation in total saves (88) and comes in at second in saves per game (6.29) behind Jamie Barry of Niagra (7.00). Short is also tied for 11th in goalie minutes played (1,260) and 30th in save percentage (.793).

Short was named WAC Men's Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week on Oct. 14 after combining for 16 saves, a shutout and allowing one goal off a penalty kick in games at San José State and Seattle U.

Short earned his first career assist on a goal kick, helping set up the game-winning goal against Grand Canyon.

BALANCED OFFENSE
Utah Tech has nine different goal-scorers, 14 point-earners and have had 17 Trailblazers put at least one shot on goal this season. Seven Trailblazers have at least four shots on goal this season with redshirt junior Ethan Bell and senior Damian Arguello leading the way with eight each. The Trailblazers are also a perfect 100% on penalty kick opportunities, tied for first in the nation, as sophomore Samir Cuevas and junior Oliver Stone scored from the penalty mark against UC Riverside and UC Irvine, respectively.

ASSIST ADEPT
Redshirt junior Bryce Backlund is tied for fifth in the WAC and 98th in the nation in total assists (4). Backlund also leads UT in points with six from one goal scored against UC Riverside and assists dished out against CSU Fullerton, then-No. 18 Portland, UC Irvine and California Baptist.

STAY CAUTIOUS
Utah Tech is tied for seventh in the nation in yellow cards (40) leading the WAC. Senior Damian Arguello, sophomore Manu Monserrat and redshirt sophomore Harrison Shaw tie for 17th in the nation with five cautions apiece. 

CHASING HISTORY
Among Utah Tech's career records, junior Stockton Short is third in saves (169), third in minutes played (3,285), fourth in wins (11), fourth in shutouts (6) and fourth in goals against average (1.48). Short is also third on the single-season saves list with his 88 stops this year.

WHAT'S NEXT
Utah Tech will visit in-state rival Utah Valley on Monday, Oct. 28. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the contest will be streamed on ESPN+.