Air Force Goes 2-0 To Open Titan Invite

Air Force men's water polo (4-2) won both games Friday in opening day action at the Titan Invitational, held at the Fullerton Aquatics Center on the campus of Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton, Calif. The Falcons defeated Concordia-Irvine 20-14 and host Cal State Fullerton 12-8.

In the opener against Concordia, the Falcons rode sophomore Tom Leggett to a 20-14 win. Leggett erupted for eight goals and two assists for 10 points. Junior Jake Dixon scored four goals and sophomore Jack Richards added three goals and two assists. Sophomore Jonah Vander Veen also recorded a career-high five assists.

After playing to a 4-4 draw in the first quarter, the Falcons out-scored Concordia 6-4 in the second to go up 10-8 at the half. Air Force tacked on six more goals in the third quarter to go up 16-13. The Falcons closed with a 4-1 advantage in the fourth quarter to pull away.

Freshman Jay Pyle picked up the win in goal with five saves. Junior Luca Smith played the second half in goal for the Falcons, posting three saves.

In the nightcap against Cal State Fullerton, the Falcon defense held the Titans to just two goals in the second half in the 12-8 win.

Leggett again led the Falcons with five points, netting a hat trick to go with two assists. Dixon added a hat trick and Richards notched four points with three goals and an assist.

Smith earned the win in goal for the Falcons, recording 14 saves and three steals.

The Falcons led 4-3 after the first quarter, but could muster just one goal in the second quarter to trail 6-5 at the half.

Air Force took control of the game with a 5-2 advantage in the third quarter. The Falcons held CSUF scoreless in the fourth quarter.

"The team played well," head coach Ryan Brown said. "We played and leaned on our defense in both games and really held strong for four quarters, especially in the Fullerton game. The defense was led by a great game in Luca Smith and a solid two games from Kaito Ham."

Air Force returns to action tomorrow against Chapman and Cal Lutheran.

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Team Stats

Jack Richards

Tom Leggett

Colin Chase

Jake Dixon

Players Mentioned

Jake Dixon

Kaito Ham

Tom Leggett

Jay Pyle

Jack Richards

Luca Smith

Jonah Vander Veen

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