Sept. 30, 2006

Stockton, Calif. - Two late goals propelled the fifth ranked Pacific men's water polo team to a comeback victory over No. 8 UC Davis, 10-9, on Saturday, Sept. 30 in front of 274 fans at Chris Kjeldsen Pool.

The win lifted Pacific to 10-5 on the season, while UC Davis fell to 5-7 overall.

The Tigers got off to a quick start as junior Dragan Bakic (Split, Croatia) scored back-to-back goals to give Pacific an early 2-0. Senior co-captain Clint McLaughlin (El Cajon, Calif.) added a third goal with 4:39 remaining in the period to up the lead to three before David Welch and Matt MacLachlan each scored for the Aggies to make it a one goal game at 3-2. Junior Duje Kaurloto (Split, Croatia) closed out the period with a five-meter penalty conversion on a drawn ejection of Aggie Grant Muenter by Bakic, making the score 4-2. The second period of play saw both teams get out of rhythm as shot clock issues saw the game slow down possession by possession. Junior Andy Skora (San Clemente, Calif.) got on the scoreboard with a goal midway through the period, pushing the Pacific lead to 5-2. UC Davis' Adam Lindsay fired back with a goal to pull the Aggies to within two before senior Matt Mitchell (San Diego, Calif.) scored with just four seconds left in the half, making the advantage for the Tigers three at the break.

UC Davis came out of the intermission running on all cylinders, as they started the period with four straight goals to make a 6-3 half time deficit into a 7-6 lead with 4:57 left in the period. Senior co-captain Matt Turnbull (Act, Australia) then answered with back-to-back goals to give Pacific the lead again at 8-7 before Kevin Bacharach tied the score with :23 seconds remaining in the period. UC Davis took in the lead in the fourth as Bacharach connected on a goal with 2:25 remaining to give the Aggies the advantage at 9-8. With 1:06 remaining in regulation, Kaurloto connected on a goal from 10-meters out, tieing the score before McLaughlin added the game winner with :33 seconds remaining to account for the final outcome.

The Tigers were lead by a quartet of Tigers with two goals apiece; Bakic, Kaurloto, McLaughlin and Turnbull.

The Aggies were lead by Bacharach's three goals, and the defensive play of goalie Mike McGee. McGee had 10 blocks on the day, and helped lead the Aggie defense in forcing Pacific to go 1-8 in man-up situations.

Pacific will return to the pool on Friday, Oct. 6 as the Tigers travel to Los Angeles, Calif. to take on Loyola Marymount at 3 p.m.

Pacific: 4-2-2-2 = 10
UC Davis: 2-1-5-1 = 9

Goals:
Pacific: Bakic 2 (33, 34), Kaurloto 2 (38, 39), McLaughlin 2 (19, 20), Turnbull 2 (21, 22), Matt Mitchell (13), Skora (20)
UC Davis: Bacharach 3, MacLachlan 2, Arrigo, Lindsay, Long, Welch

Blocks: Domecus (PAC) 5, McGee (UCD) 10

Sprints: Mike Mitchell (PAC) 3, Smith (UCD)