Academy polo team battles top 10 teams

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  Playing consecutive games against a top-10 team, the No. 17 Air Force water polo team fell short of the victory, losing to eighth-ranked University of California at Davis 7-5 on Sept. 24 at the Cadet Natatorium. 

With the loss, the Falcons fall to 8-6 on the season, 4-1 in the Western Water Polo Association, while the Aggies improve to 5-6, 2-2 in the conference.

Both teams were slow to start, with the Aggies getting on board first, scoring at the 2:20 mark in the opening period. Another UC Davis goal less than a minute later gave the Aggies a 2-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter. However, the Falcons responded with their first goal of the game on a man-up score by sophomore Joey Brewer. An outlet pass from senior captain Danny Kimmich to Justin Berry gave Air Force its second goal less than a minute before intermission. The teams went into the half tied at 2-2.

It did not take long for UC Davis to score in the third period, as it regained the lead just 14 seconds into the quarter. Another score put the Aggies up by two before Kimmich drew an ejection of UC Davis goalkeeper Mike McGee to set up a score by senior Kyle Schafer. However, the Aggies closed the quarter with another goal to once more increase its advantage to two points.

Schafer's second goal with just under six minutes to play cut the Falcons' deficit to one, but UC Davis' David Welch answered with a pair of scores in less than a minute to give the Aggies their biggest lead of the game. Despite numerous opportunities for the Falcons, the Air Force could not get back on the board until another goal from Berry with just 47 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, it was not enough as the Falcons fell 7-5. 

Despite a promising start in action Sept. 23 against second-ranked California, the Air Force water polo team was unable to pull off the upset, falling 10-4 to the Bears at the Cadet Natatorium. With the loss, the Falcons fall to 8-5 on the season, while the Bears improve to 10-1 on the year.

Cal got out to a hot start, scoring on its first possession of the game with a goal from senior John Mann. However, the Falcons responded quickly, getting on board as Kimmich converted on a five-meter attempt. The Air Force grabbed its first lead of the game at the 4:00 mark in the first period as junior Berry notched his own goal off an assist from sophomore Tyler Hewko. A 6-on-5 opportunity for the Falcons with just over 30 seconds on the clock in the opening period resulted in a score for Schafer, as the Air Force grabbed a 3-1 lead.

The Bears opened the second period much as they had the first, scoring on their first possession, this time on a goal by Andrija Vasiljevic. Cal was able to tie the game with 3:47 left in the half. The game remained tied 3-3 at the break.

Four straight scores by the Bears to open the third period put Cal up 7-3 before Air Force senior captain Blake Pickell was able to stop the run. A shot by junior Clark Condict was saved by the Bears' goalkeeper, but Pickell was there for the putback, cutting the Falcons' deficit back to three goals with 2:39 left in the third period. Unfortunately, it would be the last goal of the day for the Air Force, as Cal scored three unanswered goals over the last 10 and a half minutes of play for a 10-4 victory.