Air Force Academy
San Jose State
Falcon split pair at Mountain Pacific Invite
9/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - The Air Force water polo team split a pair of games on the second day of the Mountain Pacific Invitational, Saturday, Sept. 24, in Berkeley, Calif.
The day started as the Falcons (2-7 overall) defeated 18th-ranked San Jose State, 12-11, in sudden death overtime. In the second game of the day, the Falcons fell to Pomona-Pitzer, 9-8, in overtime.
In the first game, each team scored twice in the first quarter, but the Spartans took a 7-5 lead at the half. Air Force trailed 9-8 entering the fourth quarter, but Falcon junior Jack Empey tied the game with 1:24 left, forcing overtime. The Spartans scored first in the first overtime, but Falcon senior Riley Quinlan tied game at 10-10. In the second overtime, the Spartans again scored first by Empey tied the game with 1:56 left. In the sudden death, Empey's fifth goal of the game lifted the Falcons to the 12-11 win.
Later that day, Air Force fell behind early and battled back to force overtime, only to fall to Pomona Pitzer, 9-8. Air Force trailed 5-3 at the half. Air Force outscored Pomona-Pitzer, 4-2, in the second, sending the game into overtime. Pomona-Pitzer scored twice in the first overtime for a 9-7 lead. The Falcons added one in the second overtime, but was unable to tie the game. Empey and Edward Smet each scored twice for the Falcons.
Air Force will close out the Mountain Pacific Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 25, as the Falcons will face 11th-ranked Princeton at 1:00 pm PT.
