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University of the Pacific

Tigers Advance to GCC Championships, Take On Long Beach

STOCKTON, Calif. - The men's water polo team advanced past UC Irvine in the GCC Semfinals Saturday afternoon by a final score of 9-8.

The Tigers used a fourth period push to dispatch a 6-5 lead by the Anteaters and set themselves up for their third straight GCC Championship appearance. 

UOP plays hosts Long Beach State in the final round of the GCC Tournament tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM.

In Case You Missed It:

  • Both teams refused to give an inch throughout the first half allowing just five goals combined following the first two frames.
  • A sturdy Anteaters' defensive line limited the Tigers to just nine shots in the first two periods. A goal by Engin Ege Colak and Bogdan Djerkovic would keep Pacific in contention but the Tigers would trail UCI, 3-2, heading into halftime. 
  • Three lead changes would occur before the Tigers took the lead for good. Luke Pavillard registered his 17th hat trick of the season when the Orange and Black needed it most tallying two of his three goals in the final three minutes of play.

First Period:

  • UOP and UCI demonstrated it would be a defensive-oriented match not giving up a goal till the five minute mark in the first period.
  • Engin Ege Colak helped his team get on track recording the only goal of the first with 5:19 to go.
  • The Tigers would only get shots on goal in the period.

Second Period:

  • Andrea De Nardi put the Tigers in position to score to start out the second period. The junior won the sprint against the Anteaters which set up freshman center Bodgan Djerkovic with a score (7:41) at even strength. 
  • The Orange and Black struggled to find the back of the net after that point, however, coming up short on four straight possessions.
  • UCI would capitalize during UOP's scoring drought going on a 3-0 run to end the second and give them their first lead of the match, 3-2.

Third Period:

  • Pacific came out ready starting out the second half. Colak struck first for the Tigers scoring the equalizer with 6:53 to go.
  • Djerkovic followed along with a 5:52 goal to help UOP regain the lead, 4-3. 
  • Both teams would go back and forth as Pavillard punched in his first goal of the match at the 3:12 mark but the Anteaters would find a pair of scores to keep the match locked at 5-5 ending the third. 

Fourth Period:

  • The Tigers found themselves on the defensive to start out the final frame as UCI notched in a score and took two more shots on goal through the first three minutes of the period.  
  • Engin Colak and Luis Araya responded when it mattered, however, as Colak (5:16) found a beautiful touch pass from Pavillard for his third goal and Araya (4:37) whipped in a solo helicopter to once again give UOP a one-point advantage. 
  • Luke Pavillard single-handedly put the game away in clutch time scoring at the 3:48 and 1:50 mark to give the Tigers some cushion with a 9-7 advantage. 
  • UCI would go on to score one more goal but the Orange and Black would hold the Anteaters off for the win. 

Notables:

  • Five lead changes occured in the match on Saturday. 
  • Despite a tough battle defensively, the Tigers shot .375 percent from the field. UCI shot .235 percent.
  • Keeper John Hedges came up clutch towards the end of the match recording four of his eight saves in the final period. 

Up Next For the Tigers:

  • The Tigers take on No. 3 seed Long Beach State tomorrow afternoon for the GCC Championship.
  • UOP surrendered it's only conference loss this season to the 49ers at home in a 14-13 overtime thriller.
  • Long Beach advanced on Saturday following a 5-4 victory against No. 2 Pepperdine.
  • Live streaming and live stats will be provided. 

 

For the latest on Pacific men's water polo athletics make sure to visit the Tigers via social media on Twitter and Instagram.   

 

 

 

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