(RV) Air Force Falls In Overtime To #18 Santa Clara 13-11

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - (RV) Air Force men's water polo (17-15 overall, 1-5 WCC) dropped a 13-11 overtime contest to #18 Santa Clara (13-13, 2-4 WCC) Friday at The Cadet Natatorium.

The Falcons rallied back from a two-goal halftime deficit to tie the game up in the fourth quarter. Freshman Tom Leggett had two game-tying goals in the fourth.

Air Force struck first in overtime, getting another goal by Leggett to take an early lead. Santa Clara then rallied with three-unanswered goals to close out overtime.

Leggett notched six goals and an assist to lead the Falcons. Senior Ian Christie added a goal and three assists. Sophomore Colin Chase and freshman Jack Richards had two goals each and freshman Jonah Vander Veen had two assists.

Junior Liam Markus had two saves in goal in the first half. Sophomore Luca Smith replaced Markus in the second half and had four saves and an assist.

"This was a tough game to drop," head coach Ryan Brown said. "We battled back and did a lot of things well, but came up short."

Prior to the game, Air Force honored its 2023-24 senior class as part of senior day. Christie, Sam De La Cruz, Cole Kopperud and Joey Schell comprise the senior class of 2023-24.

"Our seniors have done a great job leading this team, in and out of the water," Brown added. "Finishing what was set in front of them by others to change this team culture to a championship one and being some people that all our younger athletes can look up to."

Air Force returns to action at the 2023 WCC Men's Water Polo Championships, which runs Nov. 17-19, in Malibu, Calif., with Pepperdine as the host institution. The Falcons open competition Friday, Nov. 17 in the #2-seed vs. #7-seed matchup at 10 am PT.

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