Saturday, October 10
USAFA, CO
12:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
15-9, 0-1WCC
15
vs
16
Pepperdine
7-10, 1-1WCC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | OT | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 16 |
| Air Force | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
10/10/2026 3:23:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force men's water polo (16-9, 0-1 WCC) split its two games Saturday at the Cadet Natatorium. The Falcons lost in excruciating fashion in double overtime to Pepperdine, 16-15. The team responded to defeat Austin College, 14-8, in the second game.
Air Force had just taken a 15-14 lead on a Tom Leggett goal with 24 seconds left in the second overtime vs. Pepperdine. The Waves then tied the game up with five seconds left. The Falcons opted to pull the goalkeeper for the extra man advantage. Air Force's long range shot was stopped by Pepperdine goalkeeper Max Smirnov. Smirnov was able to get a return shot off with one second on the clock. His shot skipped into the net to rally the Waves to the win.
The loss overshadowed a seven-goal, three-assist game for Leggett, as he tallied 10 points. Leggett scored all seven goals after halftime. Jonah Vander Veen also had a big performance, with three goals and three assists for six points. Max Ellis also had a hat trick and Brady Kopperud added two goals.
Wyatt Sturgeon had a standout game in goal for the Falcons, corralling 15 saves.
In the second game, the Falcons jumped ahead 6-1 early and rolled to the 14-8 win.
Pierce Bateman and Matthew Woodroof led the Falcons with five points each. Bateman had three goals and two assists. Woodroof had four goals and an assist. Colin Sullivan added a hat trick.
Jay Pyle picked up the win with two saves and four goals allowed in the first half of play. Bode Farren relieved Pyle and netted five saves in the second half.
Air Force returns to action next weekend with WCC road contests at St. Mary's on Oct. 16 and UC Davis on Oct. 18.
Air Force had just taken a 15-14 lead on a Tom Leggett goal with 24 seconds left in the second overtime vs. Pepperdine. The Waves then tied the game up with five seconds left. The Falcons opted to pull the goalkeeper for the extra man advantage. Air Force's long range shot was stopped by Pepperdine goalkeeper Max Smirnov. Smirnov was able to get a return shot off with one second on the clock. His shot skipped into the net to rally the Waves to the win.
The loss overshadowed a seven-goal, three-assist game for Leggett, as he tallied 10 points. Leggett scored all seven goals after halftime. Jonah Vander Veen also had a big performance, with three goals and three assists for six points. Max Ellis also had a hat trick and Brady Kopperud added two goals.
Wyatt Sturgeon had a standout game in goal for the Falcons, corralling 15 saves.
In the second game, the Falcons jumped ahead 6-1 early and rolled to the 14-8 win.
Pierce Bateman and Matthew Woodroof led the Falcons with five points each. Bateman had three goals and two assists. Woodroof had four goals and an assist. Colin Sullivan added a hat trick.
Jay Pyle picked up the win with two saves and four goals allowed in the first half of play. Bode Farren relieved Pyle and netted five saves in the second half.
Air Force returns to action next weekend with WCC road contests at St. Mary's on Oct. 16 and UC Davis on Oct. 18.
Players Mentioned
CD
/ Men's Water Polo
C
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
C
/ Men's Water Polo
AT
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water PoloTeam Stats
PEP
AF
Shots
41
34
Goals
16
15
Assists
8
13
Points
24
28
Exclusions
12
13
Steals
16
11
Sprints
5
1
1
Erik Ionescu
7:15
Milo Joseph
6:25
Csanád Bella
5:37
Charles Warmington
3:02
Sam Storrs
0:53
2
Hunter Danko
7:36
Max Ellis
5:06
Sam Storrs
4:07
Jonah Vander Veen
1:49
3
Milo Joseph
6:57
Csanád Bella
6:02
Erik Ionescu
5:03
Tom Leggett
4:50
Jonah Vander Veen
4:14
Tyce di Pretoro
3:32
Alex Piccin
2:02
Jonah Vander Veen
1:34
Tom Leggett
0:15
Erik Ionescu
0:00
4
Tom Leggett
7:14
Tom Leggett
6:36
Tom Leggett
4:10
Hunter Danko
2:46
Max Ellis
2:18
Max Ellis
1:33
Milo Joseph
1:04
5
Jon Carcarey
2:34
Tom Leggett
0:07
6
Tom Leggett
0:24
Tyce di Pretoro
0:05
B Max Smirnov
0:00
Game Leaders
Shots
12
Goals
7
Assists
3
Points
10
Shots
6
Goals
3
Assists
0
Points
3
Shots
4
Goals
0
Assists
2
Points
2
Shots
3
Goals
3
Assists
3
Points
6
Tuesday, October 20
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Tuesday, October 06
Wednesday, September 30
