Air Force Academy

Sept. 21, 2011

Weekly Release #3

Video Interview with Dillon Fisher

The 20th-ranked Air Force water polo team opens its home slate this Friday, Sept. 23, as it hosts No. 10 UC San Diego in a Western Water Polo Association match-up. The game is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. in the newly renovated Cadet Natatorium.

LAST TIME OUT...
Air Force posted a 1-3 record to finish 14th at last weekend's NorCal Invitational, hosted by Pacific. The Falcons dropped contests to three top-15 teams, falling to No. 3 UCLA, No. 9 Long Beach State and No. 13 Concordia. Meanwhile, Air Force earned an 11-9 victory over Vanguard for its lone win of the tournament.

Junior Cruz Smithson was the Falcons' leading goal scorer on the weekend, with nine goals, including three in Air Force's victory over Vanguard. Meanwhile, sophomore Josh Stedman registered seven goals and four assists for a team-high 11 points on the weekend.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS...
The Air Force Falcons, tied for 20th in the latest national coaches poll, enter this weekend with a 3-5 overall record, including a 1-2 mark in the Western Water Polo Association.

Junior Cruz Smithson (12g, 3a) and sophomore Josh Stedman (11g, 4a) lead the Falcons' in scoring through the first eight games of the season. Sophomore Andrew Hamilton shares the team lead in goals scored with 12 goals, while junior Dillon Fisher has recorded a team-best eight assists.

SCOUTING THE TRITONS...
The UC San Diego Tritons, ranked 10th in the latest national poll, currently hold a 7-1 overall record and 5-1 mark in the WWPA. The Tritons, who will host 11th-ranked Loyola Marymount on Thursday before heading to the Academy, are coming off a pair of wins over Whittier and then-15th-ranked Navy.

UCSD is coached by Denny Harper, in his 32nd year at the helm of the program. Senior Graham Saber is the Tritons' leading scorer with 28 goals and eight assists on the season, while juniors Brian Donohoe (12g, 10a) and John Butler (11g, 11a) have each added 22 points on the year.

SERIES RECORDS...
Friday night's meeting between Air Force and UC San Diego will be the 68th in the all-time series, with the Tritons holding a 53-14 advantage. The two teams met earlier this season, with UCSD picking up a 9-4 victory in its own tournament

UP NEXT...
Air Force is back on the road next weekend, facing Chapman in a conference game on Sept. 30, while taking part in the annual SoCal Tournament, being hosted by Long Beach State Oct. 1-2.