Saturday, September 21
USAFA, Colo
11:30 AM MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Lindenwood
Falcons host Rare Air 2 Invitational, Sept. 21-22
9/19/2019 8:50:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Air Force will play four home games over two days at the Cadet Natatorium
This Week: Air Force (5-3 overall) hosts the Rare Air 2 – Air Force Invitational, Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 21-22, at the Academy's Cadet Natatorium. The Falcons face Lindenwood (exhibition game at 11:30 am) and No. 20 Brown (6:30 pm) on Saturday and No. 9 Long Beach State (10:30 am) and Chapman (3:30 pm) on Sunday. All four games will be streamed and live stats (for all games of the tournament) will be available. No admission charge for any water polo home games.
The Schedule: The full schedule for the Rare Air 2 – Air Force Invitational is below:
Saturday, Sept. 21
10:00 am – Long Beach State vs. Chapman
11:30 am – Air Force vs. Lindenwood
3:00 pm – Long Beach State vs. Brown
5:00 pm – Lindenwood vs. Chapman
6:30 pm – Air Force vs. Brown
Sunday, Sept. 22
9:00 am – Chapman vs. Brown
10:30 am – Air Force vs. Long Beach State
12:00 pm – Long Beach State vs. Lindenwood
3:30 pm – Air Force vs. Chapman
The Series: Air Force and Lindenwood will meet for the first time in the history of the programs. Lindenwood competed in the Rare Air 1 – Air Force Invitational, Sept. 7-8, but the Falcons and Lions did not face each other. Air Force and Brown have played 23 times and the Bears hold a 13-10 lead in the series that began in 1979. The teams met last season at the Princeton Invitational and Brown won, 15-13. Air Force and Long Beach meet for the 42nd time and LBSU holds a 33-8 lead in the series that began in 1973. The teams played last week at the Inland Empire Tournament and the Beach won, 17-8. The last Falcon win in the series came in 1997. Air Force and Chapman have played 21 times and the Falcons hold a 20-1 lead in the series that began in 1972. The only AF loss came last season at Chapman, 15-14.
Last Weekend: Air Force posted a 2-2 record at the Inland Empire Tournament, Sept. 14-15, in Redlands, Calif. The Falcons opened the tournament with a pair of wins on the first day, 13-8 over Redlands and 18-8 over Occidental. Mike Miller tied a career-high with four goals against Redlands while Grant Snyder added three. Campbell Harris and Corey Tanis each scored three goals against Occidental. On day two, the Falcons fell to No. 8 Pepperdine (10-2) and No. 7 Long Beach State (17-8). Luke Andres and Gavin Jones scored against the Waves. Sam Fuller had a career-high three goals against the Beach.
The Streak: After an opening season loss to No. 15 George Washington, the Falcons won five straight games, the longest winning streak since late in the 2012 season. Air Force won the final three games of the Rare Air 1 invitational, Sept. 7-8, with victories over Redlands, La Verne and Salem at the Cadet Natatorium. The Falcons then won the first two games of the Inland Empire Tournament, Sept. 14, with victories over Redlands and Occidental. The streak ended with a 10-2 loss to No. 8 Pepperdine, Sept. 15. The 5-3 start for the Falcons is also the best since the 2012 team also started 5-3. That team went on to win 19 games, win the WWPA and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Three Losses, All Ranked: Air Force's three losses this season have all come against teams ranked in the top 15 in the nation. George Washington was ranked 15th when the Colonials defeated the Falcons, 20-16, in the season opener, Sept. 7. Last weekend, the Falcons fell to No.9 Long Beach State and No. 8 Pepperdine.
The Helping Hand: Senior Reagan Pittman leads the nation with 21 assists this season. Pittman also ranks third in the conference with 22 points. He has two or more assists in six of the eight games this season, including a career-best six in the win over La Verne. He also had four in the win over Salem. Pittman also leads the team with 11 steals and six field blocks this season.
The Water Cheetah: Senior Mike Miller's speed has gained Air Force the first possession more times than not. He is 22-5 in sprints this season. His 22 wins and .815 winning percentage are the best in the conference (among players who have more than six sprints). He opened the season by winning 12 straight sprints.
Between the Pipes: Both junior James Burke and sophomore Anthony Tolbert have seen action between the pipes this season. Burke has started six games while Tolbert has started two. Burke has a 5-1 record and tied his career high with 15 saves in the win over Occidental, Sept. 15. Tolbert made a season high nine against Pepperdine. Burke has 42 saves this season while Tolbert has 35.
The Schedule: The full schedule for the Rare Air 2 – Air Force Invitational is below:
Saturday, Sept. 21
10:00 am – Long Beach State vs. Chapman
11:30 am – Air Force vs. Lindenwood
3:00 pm – Long Beach State vs. Brown
5:00 pm – Lindenwood vs. Chapman
6:30 pm – Air Force vs. Brown
Sunday, Sept. 22
9:00 am – Chapman vs. Brown
10:30 am – Air Force vs. Long Beach State
12:00 pm – Long Beach State vs. Lindenwood
3:30 pm – Air Force vs. Chapman
The Series: Air Force and Lindenwood will meet for the first time in the history of the programs. Lindenwood competed in the Rare Air 1 – Air Force Invitational, Sept. 7-8, but the Falcons and Lions did not face each other. Air Force and Brown have played 23 times and the Bears hold a 13-10 lead in the series that began in 1979. The teams met last season at the Princeton Invitational and Brown won, 15-13. Air Force and Long Beach meet for the 42nd time and LBSU holds a 33-8 lead in the series that began in 1973. The teams played last week at the Inland Empire Tournament and the Beach won, 17-8. The last Falcon win in the series came in 1997. Air Force and Chapman have played 21 times and the Falcons hold a 20-1 lead in the series that began in 1972. The only AF loss came last season at Chapman, 15-14.
Last Weekend: Air Force posted a 2-2 record at the Inland Empire Tournament, Sept. 14-15, in Redlands, Calif. The Falcons opened the tournament with a pair of wins on the first day, 13-8 over Redlands and 18-8 over Occidental. Mike Miller tied a career-high with four goals against Redlands while Grant Snyder added three. Campbell Harris and Corey Tanis each scored three goals against Occidental. On day two, the Falcons fell to No. 8 Pepperdine (10-2) and No. 7 Long Beach State (17-8). Luke Andres and Gavin Jones scored against the Waves. Sam Fuller had a career-high three goals against the Beach.
The Streak: After an opening season loss to No. 15 George Washington, the Falcons won five straight games, the longest winning streak since late in the 2012 season. Air Force won the final three games of the Rare Air 1 invitational, Sept. 7-8, with victories over Redlands, La Verne and Salem at the Cadet Natatorium. The Falcons then won the first two games of the Inland Empire Tournament, Sept. 14, with victories over Redlands and Occidental. The streak ended with a 10-2 loss to No. 8 Pepperdine, Sept. 15. The 5-3 start for the Falcons is also the best since the 2012 team also started 5-3. That team went on to win 19 games, win the WWPA and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Three Losses, All Ranked: Air Force's three losses this season have all come against teams ranked in the top 15 in the nation. George Washington was ranked 15th when the Colonials defeated the Falcons, 20-16, in the season opener, Sept. 7. Last weekend, the Falcons fell to No.9 Long Beach State and No. 8 Pepperdine.
The Helping Hand: Senior Reagan Pittman leads the nation with 21 assists this season. Pittman also ranks third in the conference with 22 points. He has two or more assists in six of the eight games this season, including a career-best six in the win over La Verne. He also had four in the win over Salem. Pittman also leads the team with 11 steals and six field blocks this season.
The Water Cheetah: Senior Mike Miller's speed has gained Air Force the first possession more times than not. He is 22-5 in sprints this season. His 22 wins and .815 winning percentage are the best in the conference (among players who have more than six sprints). He opened the season by winning 12 straight sprints.
Between the Pipes: Both junior James Burke and sophomore Anthony Tolbert have seen action between the pipes this season. Burke has started six games while Tolbert has started two. Burke has a 5-1 record and tied his career high with 15 saves in the win over Occidental, Sept. 15. Tolbert made a season high nine against Pepperdine. Burke has 42 saves this season while Tolbert has 35.
Players Mentioned
AT
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G
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AT
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C
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C/D
/ Men's Water Polo
AT
/ Men's Water Polo
AT
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
G
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