Oct. 15, 2006

Los Angeles, Calif. - The seventh-ranked Pacific men's water polo team defeated No. 11 UC Irvine 12-8, then fell to No. 5 Stanford in the fifth place game at the SoCal Tournament in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 15.

With the split on the day, the Tigers moved to 12-9 on the season.

Against the Anteaters, the Tigers trailed 4-3 after one period of play before Pacific outscored UC Irvine 4-1 in the second period of play. Pacific took a 7-5 halftime lead as senior Matt Turnbull (Act, Australia) scored a 6-on-5 power play goal with just two seconds remaining on the clock.

In the second half, UC Irvine creeped back as they outscored the Tigers 3-2 in the third period, to pull within one. Pacific dominated the fourth period, holding the Anteaters scoreless for the final eight minutes, while tacking on three additional goals to account for the 12-8 final. Junior goalie Brian Domecus (Vallejo, Calif.) recorded four blocks in the final period, and totalled nine for the game to lead the defensive charge for the Tigers.

Against Stanford, the Cardinal got their revenge from earlier in the season when they fell to the Tigers in overtime in Stockton. Stanford raced out to a 5-2 lead in the first period, and never looked back. The Tigers were lead offensively by senior Mike Mitchell (San Diego, Calif.) who scored twice for the Tigers

The Tigers will return to the pool on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 12 p.m. as Pacific takes on No. 14 Long Beach State in Long Beach, Calif.

BOX SCORES

Pacific 12, UC Irvine 8
Pacific: 3 - 4 - 2 - 3 = 12
UC Irvine: 4 - 1 - 3 - 0 = 8

Goals:
Pacific Bakic 4 (46, 47, 48, 49), Kaurloto 3 (48, 49, 50), Turnbull 2 (25, 26), Mike Mitchell (4), Skora (25), Milcovich (15).
UC Irvine -- Mello 3, Hatch 2, Enloe 2, Baxter.

SAVES: Domecus (Pacific) 9,
Garcia (UCI) 9.

FIFTH PLACE GAME
Stanford 14, Pacific 6

Stanford 5 - 3 - 2 - 4 = 14
Pacific 2 - 1 - 2 - 1 = 6

Goals:
Stanford: T. Drake 6, Bury 2, Garton 2, McCarthy, Fortune, J. Wigo, Jacobsen.
Pacific Mike Mitchell 2 (5,6), Turnbull 2 (27, 28), Kaurloto (51), Skora (26).

SAVES: Hohener (Stanford) 8,
Domecus (Pacific) 10,