Air Force Splits Overtime Games Saturday To Finish 3-1 At Troyer Invite

Air Force men's water polo (20-5) split two matches Saturday in day two action at the 2022 Gary Troyer Invite in Pomona and Claremont, Calif. The Falcons fell in overtime to #12 Pepperdine 17-15 and came back to defeat Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 14-13 in sudden-death in the fourth overtime.

In the opener against #12 Pepperdine in Pomona, the Falcons opened strong, jumping ahead 5-1 after the first quarter of play. Despite allowing six goal sin the second quarter, Air Force maintained the lead at the half 9-7.

Pepperdine would go ahead in the fourth quarter by a goal late. With seven seconds remaining in regulation, the Falcons pulled the goalie and Grant Snyder scored the tying goal to send the game into overtime. Pepperdine (9-8) was able to hold a 5-3 scoring advantage in overtime to snap a 10-game win streak for the Falcons.

Snyder led Air Force with seven goals. Ian Christie added four goals and an assist. Jacob Yi chipped in with two goal. AJ Kuypers had 15 saves in goal.

In the nightcap at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, the Falcons pulled it out in sudden-death in period eight. The game winner came from junior Cole Kopperud with 2:01 to play in the quarter.

The Falcons trailed 4-2 after the first quarter but rallied to tie it at 6-6 at the half. Air Force took a 9-8 lead after the third quarter, but CMS rallied to tie it up. The teams traded three goals in the first two overtime periods to send it into sudden-death overtime. After a scoreless seventh quarter, Kopperud came through in the eighth to avenge a loss earlier in the season to the Stags.

The win gave Air Force its 20th win of the season, its first 20-win season since 1999.

Jackson Carter and Kaito Ham notched hat-tricks to lead the offense. Jacob Yi added two goals and Kopperud had two assists. Kuypers earned the win in goal, recording 10 saves.

Air Force completed a 3-1 weekend at the Troyer Invite with its two wins on Saturday.

"I was very proud of the teams' will to fight and sticking together through adversity," head coach Ryan Brown said. "We need to keep this effort up as we progress through the tough games we have upcoming on the schedule."

Air Force returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 8, hosting #6 UC Davis in a WWPA game.

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