Falcons battle back for 18-13 win over Santa Clara

U.S AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. Luke Andres and Campbell Harris each scored five goals to lead the Air Force water polo team to a come-from-behind 18-13 win over Santa Clara in a Western Water Polo Association game Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Cadet Natatorium. Air Force out-scored Santa Clara, 11-3, in the second half.

The teams traded goals in the first two minutes, before the Broncos netted a pair for a 3-1 lead midway through the first quarter. Harris scored at 3:27 for the Falcons, but Arvin Bahia scored twice as the Broncos had a 5-2 lead at the end of one.

Santa Clara held a 10-5 lead late in the second quarter, but the Falcons began to swing the momentum with two late goals. Harris scored on a five-meter shot with 39 seconds left and then added another, from Henry Yavitt, with five seconds left to cut the Bronco lead to 10-7 at the half.

The Falcons outscored SCU, 7-2, in the third quarter. After a Jason Hires power-play goal, Shane Hughes scored for the Broncos as the Falcons trailed, 11-8. Air Force then scored six straight goals for a 14-11 advantage. Andres scored three goals and Pittman scored twice in the run. Mac Carey scored for the Broncos with 24 seconds left in the third as the Falcons had a 14-12 lead entering the fourth.

The Falcons (4-9 overall and 2-2 WWPA) scored the first four goals of the fourth quarter as Pittman, Ryan Dorris, Andres and Sam Fuller all found the back of the net. Adam Low scored on the power-play for the Broncos to make up the final margin.

Air Force freshman goalie Anthony Tolbert, who came on in relief five minutes to the game, made five saves and had a steal. Air Force was 5-for-13 on the power play while the Broncos were 1-for-7. Freshman Henry Yavitt led the Falcons with four assists and also won all four of his sprints.

The Falcons travel to the MPSF Tournament, held in Palo Alto, Calif., Oct. 12-14.

--30--

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.