Falcons take two from Fresno Pacific

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force opened Western Water Polo Association play by taking a pair of games from Fresno Pacific, Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Cadet Natatorium.
The Falcons improved to 8-1 overall this season, the best start since 1991, by defeating FPU, 26-12 in a WWPA game, and 24-8 in a non-conference game later in the day.

In the conference game, Air Force broke open a close game with nine goals in the second quarter and seven more in the third. The teams traded goals early as the Falcons had a 5-4 lead at the end of the first. The Falcons then erupted in the second quarter. Freshman Jacob Yi scored twice early for a 7-4 lead. Sam Fuller then scored three for a 14-6 lead at the half. The Falcon defensive pressure led to more opportunities in the third quarter. Fuller netted his fifth of the game and Grant Snyder scored two as the Falcons had a 21-9 lead after three quarters. Fuller and Snyder each finished the game with five goals. Yi had a career-best four and freshman Zack Rath had three. Anthony Tolbert made 10 saves for the Falcons.

In the second game, Air Force took control early with four unanswered goals for a 5-1 lead after the first quarter. Fuller scored twice in the first quarter and another midway through the second as the Falcons took a 9-2 lead. Four straight goals by freshmen in the third (Yi, Sage Brady and Rath) gave the Falcons a 19-7 lead entering the fourth. Rath had a career high four goals in the game and Fuller added three. Tolbert made four saves in the first half. Freshman Liam Markus played in goal in the second half and also made four saves.

Air Force travels east for four games next weekend. The Falcons face service academy rival Navy, Thursday, Sept. 23, at 7 pm ET. The Falcons then face MIT (10 am ET) and Brown (6 pm ET) on Saturday, Sept. 25, and then Harvard at 10 am ET on Sunday, Sept. 26.

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Players Mentioned

Sage Brady

Sam Fuller

Liam Markus

Zack Rath

Grant Snyder

Anthony Tolbert

Jacob Yi

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