Nov. 11, 2006

Stockton, Calif. - The No. 8 ranked Pacific men's water polo team fell to No. 2 ranked Cal by the score of 16-6, before defeating Santa Clara 12-9 on Saturday, Nov. 11th. With todays results, the Tigers move to 15-14, 2-5 MPSF.

Against Cal, the Tigers trailed 4-1 in the first period before mounting a comeback as juniors Andy Skora (San Clemente, Calif.) and Duje Kaurloto (Split, Croatia) scored to pull Pacific to within one at 4-3 after one period of play. Following a Golden Bear goal to start the period, senior Matt Mitchell (San Diego, Calif.) found the back of the cage to make the score 5-4. Cal scored two additional goals to make the score 7-4 at the half.

In the second half, the Golden Bears scored nine straight goals, including six in the third period, to take a 16-4 lead before sophomore Will Milcovich (Walnut Creek, Calif.) and senior Clint McLaughlin (El Cajon, Calif.) scored to account for the final score of 16-6.

Against Santa Clara, the Tigers started out strong leading 4-1 after one period of play on goals by Kaurloto, Skora, and seniors Chris Garcia (Burbank, Calif.) and Matt Turnbull (Act, Australia). The Broncos stormed back in the second period, out scoring the Tigers 6-3 to tie the game at 7-7 at the half. Junior Dragan Bakic (Split, Croatia) posted a goal in the period, along with McLaughlin and Kaurloto for the Tigers.

After the intermission, both teams came out playing tough defense as each team only scored once in the third period. Bakic scored his second goal of the game in the period to tie the score back up at 8-8. In the fourth period, the Tigers took over as Bakic scored two goals, and McLaughlin and Kaurloto added one apiece, while giving up just one Santa Clara goal to account for the final margin of 12-9.

Junior goalie Brian Domecus (Vallejo, Calif.) posted 23 blocks on the day, while senior Mike Mitchell (San Diego, Calif.) won six sprints for Pacific.

The Tigers are next in action on Saturday, Nov. 18th as they travel to Stanford to take on the No. 4 ranked Cardinal. First sprint has been moved to 10:00am.

Pacific: 3-1-0-2 = 6
California: 4-3-6-3 = 16

Goals:
Pacific: McLaughlin 2 (28, 29), Kaurloto (64), Milcovich (16), Matt Mitchell (17), Skora (29)
Cal: Bacharach 3, Hayes 2, Mann 2, Matthies 2, Monsees 2, Kinsel, Mitchell, Reynolds, Sharf, Vasiljevic

Blocks: Domecus (PAC) 11, Sheredy (CAL) 10

Sprints: Mike Mitchell (PAC) 2, Hayes (CAL), Matthies (CAL)

Pacific: 4-3-1-1 = 12
Santa Clara: 1-6-1-1 = 9

Goals:
Pacific: Bakic 4 (63, 64, 65, 66), Kaurloto 3 (65, 66, 67), McLaughlin 2 (30, 31), Chris Garcia (10), Skora (30), Turnbull (38)
Santa Clara: Hendrickson 3, Farrell 2, Gorin 2, Detoy, Wall

Blocks: Domecus (PAC) 12, Callahan (SC) 8

Sprints: Mike Mitchell (PAC) 4