Saturday, September 26
USAFA, CO
11:30 am MT
Air Force Academy
12-4
18
vs
13
Biola (Calif.)
3-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biola | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 |
| Air Force | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 18 |
Photo by: 2026
Air Force Splits Saturday Games at Rare Air Challenge
9/26/2026 9:17:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force men's water polo (12-5) split its two games in Saturday action as the host team at the Rare Air Challenge at the Cadet Natatorium. The Falcons opened with an 18-13 win over Biola and then dropped a 21-14 game to #14 UC Santa Barbara in the nightcap.
In the Biola game, the Falcons took control of the game last in the first quarter and held off the Eagles for the win.
The Falcons allowed the first two goals of the game, before responding with a 3-0 run. The Falcons took the lead for good at 5-4 and never looked back. Air Force led by as many as six in the second half.
Senior Jack Richards led the Falcons with eight points on three goals and five assists. Senior Tom Leggett followed with five goals and an assist for six points. Senior Jonah Vander Veen added five points on two goals and three assists. Juniors Brady Kopperud and Dante Nocetti added three points each.
Sophomore Bode Farren earned the win in goal in a reserve role. Farren allowed just two goals in 12 minutes of work. Starter Wyatt Sturgeon logged 10 minutes, allowing five goals. Junior Jay Pyle also saw time in goal, allowing six in 10 minutes.
In the second game of the day, the Falcons kept the game close early, but UCSB pulled away with a big second quarter. The Falcons trailed by one after the first quarter at 6-5. The Gauchos then out-scored the Falcons 7-3 in the second quarter to go up 13-7 at the half.
UCSB out-scored the Falcons 8-6 in the second half.
Leggett led the Falcons with six goals and an assist for seven points. Richards added six points on two goals and four assists. Kopperud had four points on one goal and three assists. Sophomore Max Ellis notched a hat trick with three goals.
Sturgeon made the start in goal, recording 12 saves.
In the Biola game, the Falcons took control of the game last in the first quarter and held off the Eagles for the win.
The Falcons allowed the first two goals of the game, before responding with a 3-0 run. The Falcons took the lead for good at 5-4 and never looked back. Air Force led by as many as six in the second half.
Senior Jack Richards led the Falcons with eight points on three goals and five assists. Senior Tom Leggett followed with five goals and an assist for six points. Senior Jonah Vander Veen added five points on two goals and three assists. Juniors Brady Kopperud and Dante Nocetti added three points each.
Sophomore Bode Farren earned the win in goal in a reserve role. Farren allowed just two goals in 12 minutes of work. Starter Wyatt Sturgeon logged 10 minutes, allowing five goals. Junior Jay Pyle also saw time in goal, allowing six in 10 minutes.
In the second game of the day, the Falcons kept the game close early, but UCSB pulled away with a big second quarter. The Falcons trailed by one after the first quarter at 6-5. The Gauchos then out-scored the Falcons 7-3 in the second quarter to go up 13-7 at the half.
UCSB out-scored the Falcons 8-6 in the second half.
Leggett led the Falcons with six goals and an assist for seven points. Richards added six points on two goals and four assists. Kopperud had four points on one goal and three assists. Sophomore Max Ellis notched a hat trick with three goals.
Sturgeon made the start in goal, recording 12 saves.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
AT
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
AT
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
AT
/ Men's Water PoloTeam Stats
BU
AF
Shots
24
30
Goals
13
18
Assists
7
12
Points
20
30
Exclusions
12
12
Steals
0
4
Sprints
1
1
1
Noah Ryznar
7:19
Noah Ryznar
5:49
Tom Leggett
5:28
Jack Richards
4:55
Tom Leggett
4:13
Isaac Demski
3:50
Jack Richards
3:29
Gavin Starling
2:52
Tom Leggett
2:23
Owen Imasaki
1:35
Jonah Vander Veen
0:21
Noah Ryznar
0:06
2
Brady Kopperud
6:19
Gavin Starling
4:56
Jack Richards
4:40
Max Ellis
3:43
Landon Heuer
3:06
Max Ellis
2:53
Isaac Demski
0:31
Dante Nocetti
0:08
3
Tom Leggett
6:37
Jonah Vander Veen
5:17
Dante Nocetti
4:42
Landon Heuer
3:53
Noah Ryznar
1:10
4
Brady Kopperud
7:46
Xander Trevitt
7:19
Jake Burns
5:50
Tom Leggett
3:18
Colin Sullivan
2:07
Landon Heuer
1:38
Game Leaders
Shots
7
Goals
5
Assists
1
Points
6
Shots
6
Goals
3
Assists
5
Points
8
Shots
4
Goals
2
Assists
1
Points
3
Shots
3
Goals
2
Assists
3
Points
5
Thursday, September 24
Thursday, September 24
Thursday, September 24
Thursday, September 24
