Courtesy: Air Force Athletics
Day 1 Recap
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force swept at pair of games on the first day of the Rare Air Challenge, Saturday, Sept. 4, at the Academy’s Cadet Natatorium. The Falcons defeated Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 15-7, and Mt. San Antonio College, 20-10.
In the first game, Grant Snyder, a second-team All-American last season, scored a career high nine goals to lead the Falcons to a 15-7 win over Claremont Mudd Scripps in the season opener for both teams. Three straight goals by Snyder midway through the first period gave the Falcons a 5-2 lead. CMS rallied for the next two as the Falcons held a 5-4 lead at the end of the first. Snyder scored two more in the second quarter as the Falcons held a 9-5 lead at the half. Goals by Ian Christie, Henry Yavitt and Larsen McCarroll gave the Falcons a 12-5 lead early in the third. Snyder added two more in the fourth and freshman Jacob Yi scored his first career goal late in the period. Senior Anthony Tolbert made 13 saves, the second most of his career.
In game two, Air Force built a quick 5-0 lead en route to a 20-10 over Mt. San Antonio in an exhibition contest. Twelve different Falcons scored in the game, including Sam De La Cruz with three goals. Corey Tanis, Sam Fuller, Henry Yavitt, Cole Kopperud, Ryan McLaughlin and Zach Rath all scored two goals in the game. Fuller and Yavitt each scored twice in the first quarter and De La Cruz scored twice in the second as the Falcons took control early in the game.
“Overall it was a really positive day,” head coach Ryan Brown said. “The guys all played well today. We really wanted to focus on moving the ball and sharing it and we did that. Three goalies played today and they all played well. It was great to get a lot of players some time, especially our freshmen as they are really coming along.”
Air Force returns to the pool on Sunday with a pair of games in the Rare Air Challenge. The Falcons face McKendree University at noon and Cal Lutheran at 3:30 p.m on Sunday, Sept. 5, at the Cadet Natatorium.
Day 2 Recap
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Sam Fuller and Gavin Jones each scored three goals and A.J. Kuypers made some timely saves to lead Air Force to the Rare Air Challenge championship, Sunday, Sept. 5, at the Academy’s Cadet Natatorium. In a battle of undefeated teams, the Falcons defeated Cal Lutheran, 16-9, in the final game.
In the first game of the day, Air Force held off McKendree for a 17-10 win. Senior Sam Fuller scored the first three goals as the Falcons took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Jimbo Daugherty and Gavin Jones scored early in the second and then Ian Christie scored with a lob shot late in the second for a 10-2 lead at the half. The Bearcats opened the third quarter with four unanswered goals, but a pair by Grant Snyder ended the run. McKendree won the third quarter, 5-2, but the Falcons held a 12-7 lead entering the fourth. After an Air Force goal by Cole Kopperud, McKendree scored three straight to cut the Air Force lead to 13-10 with 5:37 remaining. With 5:24 left, Grant Snyder scored on a penalty shot and then the Falcon defense stiffened. Gavin Jones forced a steal and then Anthony Tolbert made a save to maintain the four-goal lead. Jones then scored at 4:02 for a 15-10 lead. Another save by Tolbert and two late goals by Sam De La Cruz and Jacob Yi gave the Falcons a 17-10 lead. Fuller and Snyder each had four goals and Tolbert made nine saves.
Air Force clinched the Rare Air Challenge title with a 16-9 win over Cal Lutheran in the final game. The teams traded goals early in the first quarter, before the Falcons took a 5-3 lead as Snyder and Tanis scored. After a CLU goal, Falcon goalie A.J. Kuypers made a save at the buzzer as the Falcons led 5-4 after one. In the second quarter, the Falcons scored three unanswered for a 9-6 lead. After a save by Kuypers on a 6-on-4 and then a goal by Snyder just before time expired, the Falcons held a 10-7 lead at the half. Goals by Tanis, McLaughlin and a lob by Christie put the Falcons up 13-8 entering the fourth quarter. Solid defense late and goals by Fuller, De La Cruz and McLaughlin sealed the win over the Falcons.
“We played well all weekend and proud of our guys,” head coach Ryan Brown said. “Cal Lutheran is a very good and well coached team. We knew it would be a close game. We are a defense first team and we knew we would have to challenge them into some tough shots. It was a good way to open the season, especially on parents’ weekend.”
Air Force, 3-0 overall, hits the road next weekend with four games in two days at the Inland Empire Classic, Sept. 11-12, in Riverside, Calif.