The No. 5 Pioneers downed Air Force by a score of 11-4 on opening weekend at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Freshman midfielder Ellis Geis (Tustin, Calif.) netted his first career collegiate hat trick in under three quarters for the Pioneers. Also tallying points for the Pioneers was senior attackman Colin Rutan (Walnut Creek, Calif.) and sophomore midfielder Jack Hannah (Milford, Ohio) with four points apiece.

The Pioneers got off to a hot start with a 5-0 run in the first quarter with two goals from Geis,  one from Rutan and junior Ethan Walker (Peterborough, Ontario) with his first goal of the season. Freshman midfielder Alex Simmons(Smithville, Ontario) scored a beautiful stinger to the upper ninety that tallied his first career goal as a Pioneer, a wonderful way to begin his college career.

Air Force would jump back into the game with two quick goals at the beginning of the second quarter. After the quick tally by Air Force, the Pioneer defense led by senior goalie Alex Ready (Lancaster, Pa.), who saved nine of the 13 shots he faced, and junior defender Dylan Gaines (Baltimore, Md.) would shut down the Air Force offense for 21:24 minutes. The Pioneers were able to score the first four goals of the second half, extending their lead to 10-2. Air Force answered with two more goals, and senior Quinn McKone (Novato, Calif.) sealed the 11-4 win for the Pioneers in the fourth quarter.

Freshman Brett Boos (Parker, Colo.) made a name for himself as he was 15-of-19 at the faceoff dot, displaying a hopeful future at the position after the legendary career of Trevor Baptiste.

The Pioneers will be traveling to Durham, N.C. this weekend to face No. 8 Duke. Faceoff is set for 9 a.m. MST and will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra and ESPN Denver 1600.