Oct. 14, 2006

Los Angeles, Calif. - The No. 7 ranked Pacific men's water polo team defeated No. 16 ranked Air Force 7-5, but fell to No. 3 ranked UC San Diego 12-11 in group play at the SoCal Tournament in Los Angeles, Calif.

With the split on the day, the Tigers move to 11-8 on the season.

Junior Dragan Bakic (Split, Croatia) scored three goals for the Tigers in the victory over Air Force, as the Tigers came back from a 4-3 halftime deficit. Senior Matt Mitchell (San Diego, Calif.), juniors Duje Kaurloto (Split, Croatia) and Andy Skora (San Clemente, Calif.), along with sophomore Will Milcovich (Walnut Creek, Calif.), added scores for the Tigers.

Against No. 3 UC San Diego, the Tigers were primed for the upset with a tie score at the half. The Tigers held a lead in the third period, but the Tritons outscored the Tigers 5-4 in the third period to account for the final margin of one.

Fellow Croatians Bakic and Kaurloto scored three goals apiece to lead the Tigers, while Skora added two goals.

The Tigers will entertain No. 11 UC Irvine at 8:40 AM at McDonalds Swim Stadium in day two action.

Pacific: 3-0-3-1 = 7
Air Force: 2-2-0-1 = 5

Goals:
Pacific: Bakic 3 (40, 41, 42), Kaurloto (44), Skora (22), Matt Mitchell (14), Milcovich (14)
Air Force: Condict 2, Brewer, Hines, Kinmich, Williams.

UCSD: 3-2-5-2 = 12
Pacific: 3-2-4-2 = 11

Goals: UCSD: Kotanjian 3, Casellini 2, Lackey 2, Dordoni, Hunt, Donohoe, Garcia, Gresham
Pacific: Kaurloto 3 (45, 46, 47), Bakic 3 (43, 44, 45), Skoka 2 (23, 24), Mitchell (15), Turnbull (24), McLaughlin (23)