SB Nation Denver - Air Force water polo: Falcons take on USC at NCAA tournament

NCAA water polo tournament: Air Force taking on St. Francis in 3rd place game

2012-12-02T19:24:16Z

The third-place game for the 2012 NCAA water polo tournament features No. 3 seeded St. Francis and No. 4 Air Force Falcons. Both teams struggled in their opening games as Air Force fell 18-7 to USC, while St. Francis lost 17-3 to UCLA.

This game should be much more competitve as Air Force is ranked 10th in the nation while St. Francis is 11th. Prior to their semifinal loses, each team was playing their best water polo of the season.

Air Force played better than expected against USC, but their offense can be better. They need Josh Steadman and Cruz Smithson to rebound and have a great scoring game on Sunday afternoon.

The real key could be the best player in the pool who arguably belongs to Air Force goalie Mike Fish. He was the sole reason that they were able to hang around with USC for almost a half. He was named to the second team all-WWPA team, and is averaging just over 12 goals per game. If not for his skills the USC outcome could have been much worse.

As for St. Francis, look for their offense to get back to their normal self on Sunday afternoon, because while Air Force has a good defense it will not be as tough as what UCLA presented on Saturday.

St. Francis will need Marko Genčić, who has scored 65 goals this year, to have a great game if they are going to get the win, plus he was named the MVP of the CWPA Eastern tournament. Then there is goal keeper Igor Mladenovic who was named to the CWPA North first-team, and the first-team All-Eastern selection.

Power play could be the difference in this game, Air Force has been hit and miss this year. However, through their run of the WWPA tournament they were able to improve upon that aspect which led to victories. Or the little things could be the difference such as a quick put back or a team getting a quick steal on the perimeter then scoring on a counter attack goal.

The consolation game begins at 2 p.m. MT and will be streamed online at NCAA.com.

NCAA water polo tournament: Air Force falls to USC, 18-7

2012-12-02T17:21:35Z

The Air Force Falcons knew it would be a long shot for them to upend the undefeated USC Trojans, but for at least a quarter and a half they gave the Trojans a run for their money before falling 18-7.

Air Force came out strong and took advantage of a sloppy USC team and actually held a 2-1 lead after Josh Steadman and Cruz Smithson scored a pair of back-to-back goals. The Trojans then shook off the bad play and led 5-2 in the second quarter, Air Force did cut it to 5-3. USC then put their offense together and scored six straight goals to comfortable go ahead of the Falcons heading into the second half.

USC felt so comfortable that they brought in their backup goalie Ely Bonilla for some NCAA tournament experience The drop off was not there as he played just as good as starter James Clark by blocking six shots, which was two more than Clark.

Air Force goalie Mike Fish did his best to keep the Falcons in the game with 12 saves, so the game could have been even more of a blowout if they had someone in the cage.

USC was led by Kostas Genidounias who had five goals, while Marc Vonderweidt and Nikola Vavic had a hat trick.

Air Force now takes on t. Franics in the third place game at 2 p.m. MT.

NCAA tournament: Air Force takes on top seeded USC

2012-12-01T18:16:42Z

The Air Force Falcons were a surprise team to make to the NCAA tournament, they were the third seed in the WWPA conference tournament, but were able to defeat LMU and then UC San Diego to earn their first Final Four trip since 1994. However, they are going up against powerhouse USC Trojans.

USC is 15-0 all-time against Air Force, and the two teams have not played since 2009, in that game the Trojans won 16-5.

USC has been the No. 1 team in the rankings all season, 27-0 and looking to win an unprecedented fifth straight NCAA title game. They will be the overwhelming favorite and they are led by Kostas Genidounias and Nikola Vavic, the duo has combined for 36 percent of USC's scoring to date. Those two were named to the All-MPSF first-team, along side two other teammates.

While USC can put up points, it is their defense that makes them an elite team. They allow just 5.66 goals per game and have only one game all year where they allowed double-digit goals.

Air Force will need to have big games from Cruz Smithson and Josh Steadman if they want to have a chance to even compete with USC. Goalie Mike Fish is an excellent keeper for the Falcons, but he will be facing the toughest offense all year. He will be counted on to make some big saves to keep Air Force in this game.

Ball control is key since USC can take advantage of bad passes and go out on an easy counter attack goal. The Falcons will need to slow the game down and use the shot clock. Doing that will limit USC possessions, and that is a way for Air Force to hang around in this game.

This game begins at 2 p.m. MT and will be streamed online at NCAA.com.

NCAA water polo tournament: Air Force earns No. 4 seed, faces top seeded USC

2012-11-28T00:04:16Z

The Air Force Falcons earned the No. 4 seed for the 2012 NCAA water polo tournament, and for their efforts they will be facing No. 1 seed, and undefeated, USC Trojans out of the MPSF.

The Falcons earned their way to the NCAA tournament by winning the auto bid of the WWPA, where they defeated UC San Diego 9-7 in the championship game.

Air Force will have a difficult time against USC, and it does not help that the NCAA tournament is being hosted by USC as well. Plus, the Trojans are also looking to win their fifth-straight NCAA title.

The Falcons' game against USC is Saturday Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. MT.

The other teams in the tournament are the UCLA Bruins who earned the only at-large berth to the tournament, and they are the No. 2 seed. UCLA will be facing CWPA champion St. Francis immediately after the Air Force game.

All games of the tournament will be streamed live online at NCAA.com.

Air Force's Jeff Heidmous named WWPA coach of the year

2012-11-27T23:43:09Z

With the Air Force Falcons winning their first WWPA title since 1994, they defeated UC San Diego 9-7, it is not a shock that their head coach Jeff Heidmous was named the WWPA's coach of the year. Heidmous won the award two times before, back in 1990 and 1994.

Heidmous led Air Force to a 19-10 regular season record which is the most wins by an Air Force team since 1999, and are heading to their first NCAA tournament since 1994. Plus, the Falcons are ranked 10th in the nation in the latest CWPA poll.

Ever since Heidmous took over the program three years ago he has been building up the program to this point by bringing in top notch talent to help bring the program to become one of the better teams in the nation.

Next up for Air Force is the NCAA tournament where they will take on top-seeded, and undefeated USC.

Air Force wins WWPA, qualifies for NCAA tournament

2012-11-19T05:14:50Z

Air Force avenged three straight loses to UC San Diego as they defeated the Tritons 9-7 at the 2012 WWPA championship game. The win for Air Force sends them to their first NCAA tournament since 1994, that is also the last time that the Falcons won the WWPA tournament.

This is also the first time since 1994 that two teams outside of the state of California will be in the NCAA tournament -- St. Francis out of the CWPA also qualified on Sunday. That was the last time the NCAA tournament had eight teams, and ever 1994 since the NCAA tournament has been four teams.

Air Force always had a lead in this game, and UC San Diego had to come back multiple times from trailing by one or two goals. Whenever UC San Diego tied it up, the Falcons were able to pull back ahead.

The game was close throughout as it was tied at two after the first period, deadlocked at four at the half and Air Force led just 6-5 heading into the final period. It was the fourth period when Air Force started to pull away, their biggest lead in the game was when the Falcons led 9-6 late in the period.

Air Force clinched the game when Peter Jackovich and Andrew Hamilton to take a 9-6 lead with 3:10 to play. The Falcons fought off two UCSD timeouts and a 6 on 5 before John Butler scored with just 15 seconds left to give Air Force the two goal win.

Goalie Mike Fish was huge in the cage for the Falcons, making 14 saves. The scoring attack for Air Force was spread around as seven different players scored, and two of those came from Brad Rajchel and Andrew Hamilton. UC San Diego was led in scoring by Brian Donohoe who had three goals.

WWPA Championship game: Air Force takes on top-seeded UC San Diego

2012-11-18T17:55:08Z

By making it to the WWPA conference title game, it assures the best finish for Air Force since 1998. In Sunday's title game, Air Force is taking on No. 1 seed UC-San Diego, these two teams have met twice this year and UCSD won both matchups. The first was 9-3, but in the second time around, Air Force made it a much close matchup, losing 10-9.

Both of these teams are in the zone, as UC San Diego has won seven in a row, and eight of their last 10 games; Air Force has won nine of their last 10 games. So, both teams are geared up and ready to play.

The key player for Air Force to watch is WWPA player of the year is Josh Stilling, and he won the award despite missing about a month of the season. Stilling was not in the lineup when Air Force lost 10-9, but he was playing in the first matchup where Air Force lost by six goals.

So, if Air force can contain Stillings, then they have a shot to win this game. So far in this tournament he has five goals. Falcons goalie Mike Fish will need have another great game, and Air Force will need to have a great day on 6 on 5 chances if they are going win and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

This game begins at 3:15 p.m. MT and is streamed for free online.

Air Force defeats Loyola Marymount, 10-9, advances to WWPA title game

2012-11-18T16:59:05Z

No. 3 seeded Air Force upended No. 2 seed Loyola Marymount Saturday afternoon, in a close 10-9 game. The Falcons were led by senior Brad Rajchel who scored four goals, including the game winner at 3:31 left in the game.

LMU starting the game strong by scoring the first two goals of the match, and then led 3-1 part way through the first quarter. The Air Force offense came alive to score the next three goals to take a 4-3 lead, and at the end of the first period the game was knotted at four goals apiece.

Air Force started to pull away in the second quarter by taking a two-goal lead, but LMU was able to get a shot past Falcons goalie Mike Fish, to make it 6-5 at the half.

The defense ratcheted up their game in the second half, and in the third quarter the Falcons rattled off two goals to LMU's one, and that made it a tie game at eight heading into the final frame.

Each team scored a goal early in the quarter to tie the game at nine, but Rajchel score his four goal of the game in the quarter. That goal proved to be the game winner, and the Falcons defense held off the Lions to earn a big to the WWPA title game against top seeded UC San Diego, Sunday afternoon.

The power play chances was the difference in this game, Air Force did not have many chances but they converted their one penalty shot, and converted 4 of 6 opportunities. The Falcons defense was able to limit LMU to just 2 of 11 power play goals, and that was the main reason that Air Force was able to win. Fish also had a good game in the cage with 13 blocked shots.

The win over LMU ended an 18-game losing streak for Air Force.