3/24/2003 - Men's Lacrosse
Navy, Air Force Tangle In Lacrosse Tuesday Night
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The 12th-ranked Navy lacrosse team will look to keep its unbeaten streak going against Air Force Tuesday night when it plays host to the unranked Falcons. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Rip Miller Field on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy. As a reminder, parking is restricted to those vehicles with a DOD sticker, however, a bus will shuttle fans from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to Rip Miller Field free of charge. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium before taking the shuttle to the game. Navy ticket personnel will be set up at the blue ticket booth on the press box side of the stadium.
Navy is fresh off Saturday's 10-6 victory over nonconference foe Stony Brook. Freshman Ian Dingman (Deferiet, N.Y.) put forth another solid effort, as he was involved in seven of Navy's 10 scoring plays, including the game-winning goal scored with just two seconds to go in the opening quarter. Dingman produced four goals and three assists and leads Navy with 22 points on 14 goals and eight assists.
Junior attack Ben Bailey fired in a pair of goals in Saturday's victory, including the Mids' first goal in each half. The Memphis, Tenn., native has scored eight goals this spring and is fourth on the team in scoring.
Defensively, the Mids' youthful corps of players held Stony Brook to six goals, the second-fewest goals scored by a Navy opponent this year. Senior Chris Stebbings (New Freedom, Pa.) is the anchor to a defensive unit that features one senior and three sophomores, including second-year goalkeeper Seth DiNola (Ballston Lake, N.Y.). DiNola leads the defense with his 8.03 goals-against average, giving up 48 goals in nearly 400 minutes of action this spring.
Air Force owns a 1-4 record coming into Tuesday night's battle with the Mids. The Falcons are coming off a disappointing 10-4 loss at Mount St. Mary's Saturday in Emmitsburg. Air Force gave rival academy Army a fierce battle a few weeks ago, but the Black Knights edged out the Falcons, 8-7, in double overtime. Following that game, Air Force had a 13-day layoff before playing against The Mount Saturday.
Junior attack Greg Dangler leads the Falcons with a team-high 10 points on five goals and five assists. Olney, Md., native Eric Lederer is second on the team in scoring with eight points on a team-high tying five goals and three assists. Defensively, four-year starter William Arnold is between the pipes, allowing 44 goals in five games for an 8.66 goals-against average.
Navy owns a 4-0 series advantage against the Falcons, however, the two teams have not met since 2000. The Mids claimed a 17-2 victory over Air Force March 29, 2000.
G-o N-a-v-y
