Photo by samsphotoservices.com

Redlands, CA — The Occidental Men's Water Polo team faced the Air Force Academy to kickstart their weekend at the Inland Empire Classic Tournament. Christian Guillaume (Ventura, CA) was the first to score with help from Nate Fisher (LaGrange, IL). Following shortly after, Hayden Comerford (Honolulu, HI), assisted by Keegan Klein (Bellevue, WA), added to the scoresheet. The first quarter ended in an exciting powerplay goal again from Comerford, assisted by Aiden Cawley (Chicago, IL). Comerford was on a roll and put three in the cage during the second quarter with assists from Jarrod Norton (Chula Vista, CA) and Oliver Wilkins (Seattle, WA). Then, Guillaume, Norton, and Klein all scored with assists from Shea Grosz (Lafayette, CA). As the game was finishing up, the Tigers found themselves with many powerplay advantages and finished three times with goals from Klein, Comerford, and Guillaume, and assists from Norton and Grosz. With three seconds left in the game, Grosz scored with an assist from goalie Henry Grady (Willow Grove, PA). The Tigers defense kept them in the game with thirteen exclusions drawn and a total of eight steals. In an intense, back-to-back scoring game, the Tigers fell short by only one point. 14-13 Air Force Academy. 

Grant Snyder led the Air Force with four goals. 

Oxy Goals: 

Hayden Comerford - 6

Christian Guillaume - 3

Keegan Klein - 2

Shea Grosz - 1

Jarrod Norton - 1

Goalie Henry Grady had seven saves and one assist.