Saturday, October 8
USAFA, CO
1:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
20-6, 1-1WWPA
11
vs
12
#7 UC Davis
9-5, 2-0WWPA
1
2
3
4
F
UC Davis
3
3
2
4
12
Air Force
4
3
1
3
11
Photo by: Photo by Trevor Cokley
Air Force Upended By #7 UC Davis, 12-11
10/8/2022 3:41:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force men's water polo (20-6, 1-1 WWPA) lost to #7 UC Davis (9-5, 2-0 WWPA) 12-11 in a WWPA game Saturday at the Cadet Natatorium. The game was part of alumni weekend, in addition to a special presentation prior to the start of the game.
Senior Grant Snyder led Air Force with three goals and an assist. Junior Ian Christie added two goals and two assists. Freshman Jake Dixon and sophomore Kaito Ham added two goals each. Sophomore Jacob Yi had a goal and two assists. Senior AJ Kuypers had eight saves in goal for the Falcons.
Air Force took a 4-3 after the first quarter. Goals by Ham, two by Snyder and one by Christie had the Falcons up early. The teams traded three goals each in the second quarter, as Air Force held a 7-6 lead at the half.
UC Davis tied the game up in the third with a 2-1 advantage in the third quarter, making it a 8-8 game. In a back-and-forth fourth quarter, the Aggies were able to rally with a 4-3 goals advantage. The Falcons had several chances to tie, but were unable to come back.
"UC Davis is a great team," head coach Ryan Brown said. "We were right there and had our chances, but missed on too many opportunities. AJ gave us a great game in goal, making some big stops. It was great to have the support of our alumni at the game and provide us with an energetic crowd. We look to regroup and prepare for another strong WWPA opponent in Loyola Marymount next week."
Before the start of the game, Air Force athletics held a dedication ceremony to name the water polo pool after longtime and historic former head coach Jeff Heidmous. A $1 million donation to the Falcon Athletic Fund and Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation in support of the Academy's water polo program will help transform the water polo locker room and team area, while providing increased support to the program.
Dr. Brian Groat, a 1997 USAFA graduate and former Air Force water polo cadet-athlete, and his wife, Kate, made the transformational investment in the program — the largest ever donated in support of Falcon water polo — in honor of Coach Heidmous and his long-time impact on the lives of cadets and the Falcon water polo program.
The game start was delayed one hour due to mechanical issues with the pool.
Air Force returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 15, hosting Loyola Marymount at noon MT.
Senior Grant Snyder led Air Force with three goals and an assist. Junior Ian Christie added two goals and two assists. Freshman Jake Dixon and sophomore Kaito Ham added two goals each. Sophomore Jacob Yi had a goal and two assists. Senior AJ Kuypers had eight saves in goal for the Falcons.
Air Force took a 4-3 after the first quarter. Goals by Ham, two by Snyder and one by Christie had the Falcons up early. The teams traded three goals each in the second quarter, as Air Force held a 7-6 lead at the half.
UC Davis tied the game up in the third with a 2-1 advantage in the third quarter, making it a 8-8 game. In a back-and-forth fourth quarter, the Aggies were able to rally with a 4-3 goals advantage. The Falcons had several chances to tie, but were unable to come back.
"UC Davis is a great team," head coach Ryan Brown said. "We were right there and had our chances, but missed on too many opportunities. AJ gave us a great game in goal, making some big stops. It was great to have the support of our alumni at the game and provide us with an energetic crowd. We look to regroup and prepare for another strong WWPA opponent in Loyola Marymount next week."
Before the start of the game, Air Force athletics held a dedication ceremony to name the water polo pool after longtime and historic former head coach Jeff Heidmous. A $1 million donation to the Falcon Athletic Fund and Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation in support of the Academy's water polo program will help transform the water polo locker room and team area, while providing increased support to the program.
Dr. Brian Groat, a 1997 USAFA graduate and former Air Force water polo cadet-athlete, and his wife, Kate, made the transformational investment in the program — the largest ever donated in support of Falcon water polo — in honor of Coach Heidmous and his long-time impact on the lives of cadets and the Falcon water polo program.
The game start was delayed one hour due to mechanical issues with the pool.
Air Force returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 15, hosting Loyola Marymount at noon MT.
Team Stats
UCD
AF
Shots
26
21
Goals
12
11
Assists
1
7
Points
13
18
Exclusions
9
8
Steals
5
7
Sprints
1
3
1
Kaito Ham
7:31
Logan Anderson
4:33
Grant Snyder
4:12
Levi Murtaugh
3:32
Grant Snyder
1:42
Tyler Mrkaich
0:53
Ian Christie
0:17
2
Aaron Voggenthaler
7:18
Levi Murtaugh
6:27
Sam De La Cruz
5:12
Ian Christie
2:39
Kaito Ham
1:59
Aleix Aznar Beltran
0:28
3
Aaron Voggenthaler
6:21
Jake Dixon
1:43
Aleix Aznar Beltran
1:10
4
Jake Dixon
7:23
Andrew Hitchcock
5:54
Grant Snyder
5:39
Logan Anderson
4:28
Aleix Aznar Beltran
3:28
Jacob Yi
2:52
Logan Anderson
1:59
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
6
Goals
2
Assists
2
Points
4
Shots
5
Goals
3
Assists
2
Points
5
Shots
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Points
2
Players Mentioned
AT
/ Men's Water PoloC
/ Men's Water PoloUT
/ Men's Water Polo
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