STOCKTON, Calif. - The men's water polo team dropped their match against second-ranked UCLA on Saturday afternoon. Despite a close match throughout and a packed home crowd audience the Bruins held a one point advantage in the third period and put together a 2-0 run in the fourth to take the match, 8-5, and remain undefeated at 14-0. Pacific moves to 5-5 overall approaching conference play.
In Case You Missed It:
Pacific kept the Bruins at bay throughout the majority of the match taking an early 2-1 lead in the first and trailing by two at the half. The Tigers would succumb to a three-point deficit with 6:54 to play in the third and fight back to trim the lead down to one ending the period. The Orange and Black would have six opportunities to score in the final frame but could not find the back of the net dropping the match.
First Period:
- Ege Colak and Luis Araya each got on the board to open up the period for the Tigers.
- Colak found the back of the net first at the 3:48 mark off an assist by Luke Pavillard.
- Araya followed Colak's goal on the next possession driving the ball pass the UCLA defender at 2:56 to tie up the match at 2-all.
- John Hedges made a pivotal save with 4:19 to go stopping a Bruin drive which set up Colak's goal.
Second Period:
- Following a Bruin goal in the sixth minute mark, Pacific responded with a powerplay goal of their own off the hand of Araya (1:41).
- Hedges made another diving save at the three minute mark adding to his total of eight for the match. The sophomore goal keeper made six of his eight saves in the first half.
- UCLA would score two additional goals to give them a two-point advantage heading into halftime.
Third Period:
- Pavillard connected on his only goal of the day with 1:53 to go off an assist by Eli Lule.
- Following a UCLA offensive foul on the next play, Pavillard set Colak up for a Tiger goal (1:23) which gave Pacific some steady momentum.
- UOP closed out the third period down by just one goal.
Fourth Period:
- The Tigers found themselves on the ropes to open up the final quarter. Luis Araya drew his third exclusion (7:36) ending the junior's day.
- UCLA would go on to score off a penalty after that point pushing the lead back to two.
- Andrea De Nardi had an opportunity to score in the fifth minute off a nice looking helicopter shot but UCLA keeper Alex Wolf made the save.
- The Tigers tried to get center Bogdan Djerkovic involved passing the ball in the middle but unfortunately it would lead to three turnovers.
- UCLA would score once more to close out the match.
Notables:
- Ege Colak and Luis Araya each had a pair of goals to lead the Tigers.
- Luke Pavillard carried the team with 4 points for the match: one goal and a season-high three assists.
- John Hedges made his fourth start for the Orange and Black. The sophomore keeper had a day, making a season-high eight saves (six of which were made in the first two periods).
Up Next For the Tigers:
- The Tigers return back to action on the road next Friday against No. 13 UC Irvine.
- The Anteaters are 5-6 overall, taking a 15-9 loss to No. 4 Cal on Saturday.
For the latest on Men's Water Polo athletics make sure to visit the Tigers via social media on Twitter and Instagram.
