THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - This afternoon inside of the Samuelson Aquatics Center the Cal Lutheran men's water polo team hosted the Air Force Academy Falcons, falling 14-7 to the Division I program from Colorado.
The visiting AFA opened a quick 5-0 lead in the first frame, scoring on each of its first two possessions and although the Kingsmen made a valiant effort the Falcons controlled the momentum. Camron Hauer put up a crooked number for CLU to start the second stanza and the Kingsmen closed the gap to 7-3 by the end of the first half with goals from Mats Albins and Zack Card.
In a game that was used a learning and growing opportunity, 20 different players dove in for the Violet and Gold while a quartet of players made his CLU debut including Connor Hauer, Matt Fong, Davy Thomas and Jake Venckus.
Card and Jake Gallagher scored twice apiece for CLU and Chris Gardhouse added a tally as well. Fong and Shea Craig each handed out an assist and Gardhouse drew a pair of ejections.
Defensively, Thomas came up with one of the two steals and Nick Loomis recorded the other. Albins added a field block to his goal today as well. Venckus, in his first water polo game for the Kingsmen, guarded the cage for the fourth quarter and recorded two saves.
Air Force spread their scoring around with 10 different Falcons finding the back of the net.
Cal Lutheran (2-5) wraps up its home stand on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 5:00 p.m. inside of the Samuelson Aquatics Center against Penn State-Behrend.
Box Score: AFA 14, CLU 7
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