USAF ACADEMY, Colo. — The Wagner College men’s water polo team completed a demanding four-game weekend at the Cadet Natatorium competing against top-tier national competition at the Rare Air Challenge hosted by the United States Air Force Academy .
The Seahawks finished 2-2 during the weekend with a defeat of Augustana College, 14-11, and a loss to No. 14-ranked the University of California-Santa Barbara, 20-10, on Saturday, September 26, prior to handling Biola University in sudden death overtime, 14-13, and taking a 16-15 setback against the host Falcons on Sunday, September 27.
Against UC-Santa Barbara, the Gauchos took advantage of a fast start by opening the match on a 5-0 run in the first quarter. Late in the opening frame junior Matan Friedenberg converted a strike and sophomore Aksel Gerhardstein found the back of the net to bring the Seahawks within 5-2.
Wagner settled into its rhythm in the second quarter, trading goals with UC-Santa Barbara in a competitive three-all frame. Senior Gabe Johnson scored on an advantage play, freshman Noah Garrison also buried a shot and Friedenberg converted a five-meter penalty shot to send the Green & White into halftime trailing 8-5.
However, the nationally-ranked Gauchos created separation coming out of the intermission with a 7-2 third-quarter run. Junior captain Smith Connors and Gerhardstein both struck for Wagner, but UC-Santa Barbara carried a 15-7 lead into the final eight minutes.
The Seahawks continued to fight in the fourth quarter as sophomore Kelly Murphy opened the scoring for Wagner before Connors recorded his second goal of the afternoon. In the closing minutes, Friedenberg capped off a team-high performance with his third goal of the match to complete a hat-trick.
In goal, junior Filip Petrovic went the full 32 minutes and made 10 saves .
Facing Augustana, Wagner rallied back from an early deficit to stymie their Division III foe.
The Vikings edged out a 3-1 advantage early in the opening quarter despite first-period strike from Gerhardstein. The Seahawks found their offensive attack in the second frame, with a high-scoring battle as sophomore Landon Castillo recorded two goals alongside contributions from senior Vince Varga, sophomore Jonah Aguilera and Connors. After the back-and-forth spree, the Seahawks headed into the halftime intermission with a 7-6 lead.
Coming out of the break, the Green & White took control of the match to put together a 5-1 run in the third quarter. Friedenberg highlighted the breakout performance by netting two goals, while Connors continued his attack with three goals to push Wagner ahead 11-8 heading into the final eight minutes.
The Seahawks maintained their composure in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach, as Friedenberg scored again and Murphy netted his first goal of the contest. Connors capped off a game-high four-goal night to seal an 14-11 victory.
On Sunday, September 27, the Seahawks jumped out to a fast start in the opening frame to take a 4-3 lead against Biola thanks to strikes by sophomore Jacob Troy, Varga, and a pair of goals from Connors . The Eagles responded in the second quarter, utilizing a 4-2 run to edge ahead 7-6 prior to the halftime intermission despite goals from Murphy and Friedenberg.
The second half turned into a back-and-forth defensive battle. In the third quarter, Gerhardstein, senior captain Patrick Ray and Connors converted key opportunities to place the Seahawks in a nine-all draw heading into the fourth quarter.
In a frantic final eight minutes of regulation, senior Gabe Johnson found the back of the net once and Connors delivered two crucial goals, including the equalizer with 1:40 remaining, to tie the match at 12-12 and force overtime.
Connors continued his offensive play in the first overtime period, striking with 25 seconds remaining to put Wagner ahead 13-12. Biola managed to force sudden death when they scored late in the second overtime frame, but the Seahawks remained calm.
Just 50 seconds into sudden death, Wagner earned an advantage opportunity, and freshman Harry Colley sealed the 14-13 win.
Squaring off with the host Falcons, Wagner was unable to land another victory against Air Force.
The teams traded goals in the opening frame to exit the first eight minutes tied at three-all as Connors, sophomore Nadav Carmon and Colley cashed in scoring chances.
Air Force created separation in the second quarter by utilizing a 4-2 run to head into the halftime break holding a 7-5 advantage.
During the second half, the Green & White received goals from freshman Cooper Albano and Murphy. Wagner exploded for five goals in the third quarter, highlighted by two strikes from Carmon and conversions from Castillo, Weston Swank and Connors, but the Falcons matched every push to enter the final frame ahead 12-10.
The Seahawks fought throughout the fourth quarter. Ray brought Wagner within one before freshman Noah Garrison buried the equalizer at the 5:59 mark to tie the game at 12-all. After Air Force answered back, Castillo answered with his third goal of the game to keep the Seahawks within striking distance. Air Force built a 16-14 cushion with under four minutes remaining, but Carmon completed his hat trick at 3:00 to bring Wagner back within one at 16-15. Wagner pushed until the final whistle, but the Falcons defense held on through the closing seconds to land a victory.
