Air Force Academy
Long Beach State
Falcons split two games at So Cal Tourney
10/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Box score vs Concordia 
| Box score vs. Long Beach
The Air Force water polo team, ranked 14th in the nation, split a pair of games at the annual So Cal Tournament, Oct. 10, in Malibu, Calif. The Falcons opened with a 9-8 loss to eighth-ranked Long Beach State. In the day's second game, the Falcons bounced back for a 23-10 win over Concordia.
In the first game, goals by Robby Stiefel and Garrett Fisk in the first quarter gave the Falcons an early 2-0 lead. Long Beach State scored the next three before Falcon Riley Thomas tied the game at 3-3 in the second quarter. The 49ers broke a 5-5 tie with three straight goals late in the third and early in the fourth for an 8-5 advantage. The Falcons (5-10 overall this season), battled back with goals Ben Rogers and Eric Curia to cut the LBSU lead to 8-7 with 5:10 left in the fourth. After a Long Beach goal, Thomas' third of the game cut the Falcon deficit to 9-8 with 3:27 left, but Air Force could not find the equalizer. Thomas led the Falcons with three goals. Stiefel had two goals and team highs of three assists and three steals. Junior Max Benson made 12 saves.
In the second game, the Falcons broke open a close game with 11 goals in the third quarter en route to a 23-10 win over Concordia. The Falcons led 3-2 at the end of the first and 7-4 at the half. Carter scored two goals in the first half to lead the Falcons. In the third quarter, the Falcons exploded for 11 goals. Robby Stiefel scored five goals in the quarter as the Falcons built an 18-6 lead. Stiefel led the team with five goals and six steals in the game. Rogers had three goals while George Millard, Oliver Carter, Edward Smet, Alec Niderland and Thomas all had two goals. Nine different Falcons scored goals in the game. Senior Caleb Guarino made 10 saves for the Falcons.
Air Force continues action in the tournament on Sunday, Oct. 11, but the Falcons' opponents have not yet been determined.
10/10/15 vs. Long Beach State, So Cal Tournament, Malibu, Calif.
Goals by Qtr. 1 2 3 4 Final
#14 Air Force 2 1 2 3 8
#8 Long Beach 1 2 4 2 9
Starters: Carter, Fisk, Rogers, Curia, Thomas, Stiefel, Benson
Played: Kamai, Leiter, Harrison, Smet, Quinlan, McDill
Goals (8): Thomas 3, Stiefel 2, Fisk 1, Curia 1, Rogers 1
Assists (7): Stiefel 5, Fisk 1, Smet 1
Steals (9): Stiefel 3, Benson 2, Quinlan 1, Carter 1, Curia 1, Thomas 1
Goals Against (9): Benson 9
Saves (12): Benson 12
6-on-5: AF 3/8; LB 1/3
Penalties: AF 1/1; LB 1/1
10/10/15 vs. Concordia, So Cal Tournament, Malibu, Calif.
Goals by Qtr. 1 2 3 4 Final
#14 Air Force 3 4 11 5 23
Concordia 2 2 2 4 10
Starters: Carter, Fisk, Rogers, Curia, Thomas, Stiefel, Guarino
Played: Kamai, Leiter, Smet, Quinlan, Harrison, McDill, Millard, Lee, Fogelberg, Colas, McCarthy, Niederland, Dorris
Goals (23): Stiefel 5, Rogers 3, Millard 2, Thomas 2, Carter 2, Smet 2, Niederland 2, Quinlan 1, Kamai 1, Fisk 1, Curia 1, McCarthy 1
Assists (14): Stiefel 2, Quinlan 2, Carter 2, Curia 2, Leiter 2, Lee 1, Colas 1, Thomas 1, Rogers 1
Steals (22): Stiefel 6, Thomas 3, Leiter 3, Guarino 3, Quinlan 1, McDill 1, Millard 1, Lee 1, Fogelberg 1, McCarthy 1, Dorris 1
Goals Against (10): Guarino 10
Saves (10): Guarino 10
6-on-5: AF 9/11; CC 5/8
Penalties: CC 1/1
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