Saturday, September 2
USAFA
9:50 am MT
Air Force Academy
22
vs
6
Johns Hopkins
Photo by: Photo by Trevor Cokley
#19 Air Force Opens Rare Air Challenge With Wins Over Johns Hopkins and Redlands
9/2/2023 7:44:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - 19th-ranked Air Force men's water polo won both of its matches Saturday at the Rare Air Challenge at the Cadet Natatorium. The Falcons defeated Johns Hopkins 22-6 and held off Redlands 14-13 in the nightcap.
In the morning game against JHU, the Falcons had six players score multiple goals with 13 different players notching a goal. The Falcons played solid defense, allowing just one goal in each of the first three periods.
The Falcons started slow, but still managed a 4-1 lead after the first quarter. Air Force put the game out of reach with seven second quarter goals to go up 11-2. Air Force added seven goals in the third and four in the fourth quarter.
Junior Jacob Yi led the Falcons with four goals and five points. Freshman Tom Leggett recorded a hat trick in his collegiate debut with three goals. Senior Ian Christie notched four points with two goals and two assists.
David Brown, Jackson Carter and Owen Imasaki scored two goals each. Jack Richards had three assists in his collegiate debut.
Sophomore Luca Smith had nine saves, one assist and one steal in goal for the Falcons, picking up the win.
Against Redlands, the Falcons held off the defending NCAA Div. III Champions despite not scoring a goal in the fourth quarter.
After a first quarter where the two teams played to a 5-5 tie, Air Force took control of the game with a 5-1 scoring advantage in the second. The Falcons extended their lead to five goals with a 4-3 advantage in the third to lead 14-9. Redlands would out-score Air Force 4-0 in the fourth, but several big stops by the defense allowed the Falcons to gut out the win. Air Force held Redlands to zero power play goals in eight tries.
Junior Liam Markus had nine saves in goal for the win. Leggett recorded four goals and five points to lead the Falcon scoring attack. Christie added four points with a goal and three assists. Sophomore Jake Dixon notched a hat trick with three goals. Brown added two assists.
Air Force is set to play two games Sunday to cap the Rare Air Challenge. The Falcons open against former WWPA rival and 5th-ranked UC Davis at 2:30 pm MT and then take on Cal Lutheran at 6 pm.
In the morning game against JHU, the Falcons had six players score multiple goals with 13 different players notching a goal. The Falcons played solid defense, allowing just one goal in each of the first three periods.
The Falcons started slow, but still managed a 4-1 lead after the first quarter. Air Force put the game out of reach with seven second quarter goals to go up 11-2. Air Force added seven goals in the third and four in the fourth quarter.
Junior Jacob Yi led the Falcons with four goals and five points. Freshman Tom Leggett recorded a hat trick in his collegiate debut with three goals. Senior Ian Christie notched four points with two goals and two assists.
David Brown, Jackson Carter and Owen Imasaki scored two goals each. Jack Richards had three assists in his collegiate debut.
Sophomore Luca Smith had nine saves, one assist and one steal in goal for the Falcons, picking up the win.
Against Redlands, the Falcons held off the defending NCAA Div. III Champions despite not scoring a goal in the fourth quarter.
After a first quarter where the two teams played to a 5-5 tie, Air Force took control of the game with a 5-1 scoring advantage in the second. The Falcons extended their lead to five goals with a 4-3 advantage in the third to lead 14-9. Redlands would out-score Air Force 4-0 in the fourth, but several big stops by the defense allowed the Falcons to gut out the win. Air Force held Redlands to zero power play goals in eight tries.
Junior Liam Markus had nine saves in goal for the win. Leggett recorded four goals and five points to lead the Falcon scoring attack. Christie added four points with a goal and three assists. Sophomore Jake Dixon notched a hat trick with three goals. Brown added two assists.
Air Force is set to play two games Sunday to cap the Rare Air Challenge. The Falcons open against former WWPA rival and 5th-ranked UC Davis at 2:30 pm MT and then take on Cal Lutheran at 6 pm.
Players Mentioned
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
AT
/ Men's Water Polo
AT
/ Men's Water Polo
C
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
AT
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
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