Air Force Sweeps Sunday Games at Rare Air Challenge

Sunday, September 27

USAFA, CO

12:00 pm MT

Air Force Academy

13-5

Wagner

5-11

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Wagner	3	2	5	5	15
Air Force	3	4	5	4	16

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Ottawa Arizona	4	2	4	4	14
Air Force	5	5	5	6	21

Photo by: 2026

Air Force Sweeps Sunday Games at Rare Air Challenge

9/27/2026 4:15:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force men's water polo (14-5) split its two games in Sunday action as the host team at the Rare Air Challenge at the Cadet Natatorium. The Falcons opened with a 16-15 win over Wagner and followed it up with 21-14 win over Ottawa-Arizona.

In the opener, Air Force held off a late rally by Wagner in the one-goal win.

The game started close, with the game tied 3-3 after the first quarter and the Falcons going up one at the half 7-6. Air Force got up 12-7 in the third quarter and seemed poised to pull away. Wagner responded with five straight goals to tie it up at 12-12.

After trading goals, the Falcons out-scored the Seahawks 3-2 over the final five minutes of play to pull out the win. Jack Richards had the go-ahead goal.

Richards led the Falcons with seven points on four goals and three assists. Tom Leggett added five points on four goals and one assist. Max Ellis, Brady Kopperud and Dante Nocetti followed with three points each. Ellis had a hat trick with three goals.

Wyatt Sturgeon recorded 13 saves in goal for the win.

In the second game, the Falcons rolled to the 21-14 win.

Freshman Pierce Bateman led the Falcons with five goals scored. Matthew Woodroof added a hat strick with three goals.

Jay Pyle earned the win in goal, allowing six goals in the first half. Bode Farren relieved Pyle and played the second half in goal.

Air Force returns to action next Friday-Saturday at the Gary Troyer Tournament in Claremont, Calif. The Falcons take on Cal Lutheran, Cal Baptist, Pomona-Pitzer and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.