Air Force Academy
Cal Baptist - WWPA Championships (3rd place)
Falcons claim third place at WWPA Tournament
11/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- With five goals in the third period, the fifth-seeded Air Force water polo team came from behind to defeat third-seeded Cal Baptist, 12-10, in the third-place game of the Western Water Polo Association Championships, Sunday, Nov. 19, in San Diego, Calif.
Cal Baptist scored four goals in the first 5:08 of the game for an early 4-0 lead. Air Force got on the board with 2:15 left in the first on Jack Empey's goal. Riley Thomas scored early in the second for the Falcons, but the Lancers answered with two goals for a 6-2 lead late in the second quarter. Eric Kawecki scored at 2:33 of the second as the Falcons trailed 6-3 at the half.
Air Force dominated the third quarter, out-scoring the Lancers, 5-0. Edward Smet scored twice while Michael Miller, Garrett Fisk and Justin Harrison all found the back of the net as the Falcons led 8-6 entering the fourth. Miller and Thomas each scored early in the fourth for a 10-6 advantage. The Lancers scored two power-play goals, but Harrison and Luke Andres answered each one for a 12-8 lead with under two minutes left. CBU scored two goals in the final 1:29 to make up the final margin.
Air Force has placed third in the tournament two of the last three years. Since winning the tournament in 2012, Air Force has posted a 2-1 record at the championships each of the last five years.
The Falcons closed out the 2017 season with a 9-14 overall record.
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