Nov. 2, 2008

Stockton, Calif. - The No. 19 Pacific men's water polo team dropped a tough 11-10 decision to No. 7 UC Santa Barbara in overtime on Sunday, Nov. 2 at Chris Kjeldsen Pool on the Pacific campus. The Tigers fell to 10-16 overall, 0-4 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while the Gauchos improved to 13-8, 2-2 in the MPSF.

UC Santa Barbara took a 1-0 lead with 6:55 left in the first period on a goal by Milos Golic. The Tigers responded at the 3:27 mark with a score from senior William Milcovich (Walnut Creek, Calif.). Golic added two goals in the final 1:30 to give UCSB a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period.

Playing great defense to start the second period, the Tigers held the Gauchos scoreless the first four and a half minutes of the period. The Tigers were able to even score at 3-3 on goals from sophomore Austin Delong (Houston, Tex.) and senior Shane Mahoney (Lodi, Calif.). The Gauchos responded quickly with goals from Noah Smith and Stefan Partelow to take a 5-3 lead with 2:30 left in the first half. The Tigers got another goal from Milcovich just 15 seconds later, and a second goal from Delong with :31 seconds left in the half to even the score again at 5-5. UCSB's Smith scored his second goal with just two seconds left in the period to take a 6-5 lead at halftime.

In the third period, the Tigers scored two consecutive goals from Mahoney and Delong to take a 7-6 lead with 4:20 remaining. Miles Price evened the score again at 7-7, but Pacific scored on goals from Grant Hollis (Redlands, Calif.) and Mahoney to extend the lead to 9-7 after three periods.

Price scored his second goal with 4:46 left in the game to bring the Gauchos back to within one goal. Kendell Olds scored with 1:13 left in the fourth period to tie the game at 9-9. Both teams could not capitalize on scoring opportunities in the final period to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, the Gauchos struck first with a goal from Jesse Tootell to take a 10-9 lead. Junior Joey Rossi (Ceres, Calif.) broke a 10 minute scoring drought to even the game at 10-10. Price tallied again with :36 seconds left to give the Gauchos an 11-10 lead at the end of the first overtime period. Neither team scored in the final period, as UCSB held on for the victory.

Mahoney and Delong each scored three goals to pace the Tigers. Golic and Price each had three goals for UCSB. Senior goalkeeper Brian Domecus (Vallejo, Calif.) was outstanding in the cage for the Tigers with 16 saves.

The Tigers are next in action at USC on Friday, Nov. 7.

Scoring Recap

Q1

6:55 - Milos Golic (UCSB)

3:27 - William Milcovich (Pacific)

1:24 - Golic (UCSB)

:08 - Golic (UCSB)

Q2

5:37 - Austin Delong (Pacific)

3:58 - Shane Mahoney (Pacific)

3:34 - Noah Smith (UCSB)

2:45 - Stefan Partelow (UCSB)

2:30 - Milcovich (Pacific)

:31 - Delong (Pacific)

:02 - Smith (UCSB)

Q3

6:41 - Mahoney (Pacific)

4:20 - Delong (Pacific)

3:55 - Miles Price (UCSB)

3:22 - Grant Hollis (Pacific)

2:36 - Mahoney (Pacific)

Q4

4:46 - Price (UCSB)

1:13 - Kendell Olds (UCSB)

OT1

2:28 - Jesse Tootell (UCSB)

1:45 - Joey Rossi (Pacific)

:36 - Price (UCSB)

OT2

No goals scored.

Goals

UCSB Milos Golic 3, Miles Price 3, Noah Smith 2, Stefan Partelow, Kendell Olds, Jesse Tootell.

Pacific Shane Mahoney 3, Austin Delong 3, William Milcovich 2, Grant Hollis, Joey Rossi.

Goalkeeper saves

UCSB - Fraser Bunn 8.

Pacific - Brian Domecus 16.