Air Force’s 5-0 start is best since 1991

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force water polo team won a pair of games on the first day of the Inland Empire Tournament and improved to 5-0 on the season, the team's best start since 1991. Air Force opened the tournament with a 13-12 overtime win over the host school, Redlands. The Falcons concluded the day with a 14-8 win over Chapman.

Sam Fuller's overtime goal led Air Force to the win over Redlands in the first game of the tournament. The largest lead of the game for either team was a two-goal advantage for the Falcons in the second quarter. The game was tied at 5-5 at the end of the first. Back-to-back goals by Fuller gave the Falcons a 9-7 lead in the second. Redlands scored late in the second and early in the third to tie the game at 9-9. The teams again traded goals in the third and fourth. Grant Snyder gave the Falcons an 11-10 lead at 5:08 of the fourth, but Chapman tied the game with 2:21 left. Fuller's game winner came at 1:26 of the first overtime as neither team found the back of the net in the second overtime.

In the second game, Fuller scored three goals in the first quarter for a 5-0 lead. Chapman scored the next two, but Fuller's fourth of the game gave the Falcons a 6-2 lead in the second. Ryan McLaughlin scored late in the second quarter for a 7-3 lead at the half. Fuller's fifth of the game put Air Force up 9-4 in the third. The Falcons added five goals in the fourth quarter for a 14-8 win. In addition to Fuller's
five goals, Zach Shelley and McLaughlin each had two. A.J. Kuypers made 10 saves and had two steals.

Air Force returns to action against Ottawa University on Sunday at 9 am PT. Air Force will close out the tournament against sixth-ranked Long Beach State at 2:45 pm PT. Both games will be played in Redlands, Calif.

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Players Mentioned

Sam Fuller

A.J. Kuypers

Ryan McLaughlin

Zach Shelley

Grant Snyder

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