Air Force Academy

Nov. 13, 2001

U.S.A.F. Academy, Colo.- The Air Force water polo team heads into its final weekend of competition Nov. 16-18 at the Western Water Polo Association Championships. The Falcons are currently 11-11 this season after splitting Nov. 3-4 at Loyola Marymount and Claremont with losses against LMU (11-6) and UC-Santa Barbara (10-6) during the first day of competition. Air Force rebounded the following day, defeating Claremont (12-4) and Chapman Univ. (7-2).

The Falcons have been able to maintain a strong campaign this season, despite the loss of eight of their top-nine players to either graduation or injury. Air Force began the 2001 season with a split at the UC San Diego Triton Tournament. Air Force defeated BYU-Hawaii, 14-4, and La Verne, 14-6 in their first day of competition. Air Force lost both games the following afternoon, suffering a bitter 14-2 loss to tournament hosts UCSD and falling 13-6 to Loyola Marymount.

The Falcons were at the UC-Santa Cruz Slugfest Tournament the next weekend. Air Force finished its first day with a 15-3 win over Pomona-Pitzer and a 12-7 win over tournament hosts UCSC. Air Force split in its final day falling to Redlands (11-10) and defeating Santa Clara (7-4). Against Navy, the Falcons fell 8-5 but managed a win later that afternoon against George Washington University and defeated the Colonials, 10-5.

Air Force split at the Northern California Water Polo Tournament in Palo Alto, hosted by Stanford. The Falcons fell 13-5 to second-ranked UCLA and were edged, 6-5, by Univ. of the Pacific in their first day of competition. Air Force rebounded the following day, defeating both Santa Clara (10-8) and UC-Davis (4-3). The Falcons went 1-3 at the Air Force Water Polo Tournament last weekend. Air Force lost in overtime to California Baptist (10-8) in its first game of the tournament, and fell 8-5 to Navy Saturday evening. The Falcons defeated UC Davis (7-5) the following day, but lost their final match of the weekend to UC San Diego (8-3).