STOCKTON, Calif. – A high-scoring battle at the Chris Kjeldsen Pool ended in an exciting victory for the #3 Pacific men's water polo team (18-4, 3-0) Friday night against #11 UC Irvine (12-10, 1-2).

"Irvine came out hot, and I thought we didn't come with the intensity in the first half that we needed to, and unfortunately, some of our players were not playing at their best yet, but it's a team effort," said Head Coach James Graham. "So, not exactly how we drew up the game plan, but every win's a big win, and we're happy to move on in conference and continue to be undefeated."

Five Tigers each ended the game with three goals: senior Bogdan Djerkovic, senior Djordje Stanic, sophomore Mihailo Vukazic, senior Matthew Hosmer and sophomore co-captain Reuel D'Souza.

Senior Jeremie Cote found the back of the net twice for the Tigers, and senior Gianluca Caltagirone dented the twine for Pacific for the game's final goal.

"It's a great goal for me at the end of the season. I don't get much playing time, but I think it stems from what our starters do," said Caltagirone. We're a team. All the players stepped up and did their roles, which allowed me to get my chance; my family members, my brothers, worked hard in the pool the whole game. They see me come to practice daily and work with them on the same things. So, I think it's a big motivation for them to see that I reap some benefits. But it's all because of their hard work in the pool before me."

D'Souza had a season-high seven assists in the game against the Anteaters. Vukazic and senior goalkeeper Joey MacLeane each had two assists, and Stanic assisted on one goal for the Tigers.

Djerkovic had five exclusions drawn, one less than his season-high for a single game. Vukazic and Hosmer each had one.

"Despite Jeremie getting two exclusions early and then getting split open late and him not being able to play very much of the game and having to make a goalie change at half, that's what makes Pacific water polo great, is that we're a team and it's always the next guy up," said Graham. "They were behind each other the whole game from start to finish, all the way to the last play on that goal [by Caltagirone] where everyone went crazy."

Senior Rene Peralta, Hosmer and graduate student goalkeeper Bae Fountain each stole the ball from the Anteaters once to regain possession for the Tigers.

The Tigers head to #7 UC Davis on Sunday, Oct. 30, for their next game at noon. The Tigers are 17-9 against the Aggies since 2005, winning 11 of the last 13 games.

"We said in our post-game meeting, celebrate, have your fun, but move on. Davis is a great team," said Caltagirone. "We have to come up and be ready for this game. They've competed with the best this year, so enjoy tonight, but get ready for tomorrow. Get to practice. Get our film in. Get ready for Davis on Sunday."