Air Force Extends Win Streak With Sweep At Troyer Invite

Air Force men's water polo (19-4) won both of its matches at the 2022 Gary Troyer Invite Friday in Pomona and Claremont, Calif. The wins extend the Falcons' win streak to 10 games and its 19 wins are the most since 2012.

Its win streak is ties for the third-longest in program history and the most since winning 13 in a row in 1988.

The Falcons defeated Cal Lutheran (4-9) 19-10 in the morning game at Haldeman Pool in Pomona and Whittier (5-9) 21-9 in the afternoon game at Axelrood Pool in Claremont.

Both games started with close scores in the first half, with Air Force pulling away in the latter half.

Air Force led Cal Lutheran by just one score at 6-5 at the half. The Falcons went on to out-score the Kingsmen 13-5 in the second half to pull away.

Junior Ian Christie scored a game-high five goals and tallied six points in the win. Senior Grant Snyder recorded a hat-trick with five points. Freshman Colin Chase also added a hat-trick. Senior AJ Kuypers returned in goal after missing last week, making 10 stops in the win.

Against Whittier, the Falcons rallied back from a 7-5 halftime deficit, highlighted by a monster fourth quarter.

The Poets led 4-3 after the first quarter and 7-5 at the half. The Falcons took over in the second half, holding the Poets to just one goal each in the third and fourth quarters. Five goals in the third put Air Force ahead 10-8. Air Force then erupted for 11 goals in the fourth quarter to pull away. Its 21 goals was season-high in a game.

Chase scored a team-high four goals against Whittier. Snyder notched another hat-trick with six total points. Christie scored two goals to go with six assists. Sam De La Cruz, Jackson Carter, Cole Kopperud and Larsen McCarroll added two goals each. Luca Smith played the second half in goal for the Falcons, recording five saves in the win.

"We did not start either of the games well," head coach Ryan Brown said. "But with the help of our team leaders, we were able to rally and finish strong. We need to be better tomorrow and the rest of the season as we have no more easy games this season. Tomorrow, we look to do better on finishing our opportunities on offense and play with purpose the entire game."

Air Force returns to action Saturday at the Troyer Invite with two more games. The Falcons open against #12 Pepperdine at 10:20 am PT in Pomona and against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 5 pm PT in Claremont.

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