STOCKTON, Calif. – Behind fifth-year senior Rene Peralta's five-goal game, the #15 Pacific men's water polo team (10-6) took down #16 Fordham (14-4) in a tightly-contested match, 12-10, Wednesday at Chris Kjeldsen Pool.
 
"We found an adaptation that worked, and that's what counts," said Pacific head coach James Graham of his team's second-half comeback. "We're excited to get that win because Fordham is a quality team. To be able to get back in the win column and know that we can compete at that level felt really good."
 
Peralta led the charge offensively for Pacific, tying a career-high with five goals on seven shots.
 
"That's his senior time," said Graham. "He hit big shots and put things away. That's what you look for in guys who are the most experienced. We're glad we had him in the pool today."
 
Junior Declan McJilton tied a season-high with two goals and three points, giving life to the offense late in the game. Junior Gil Gvishi extended his season-long point streak to 16 games with a pair of goals and one assist.
 
In a tale of the two halves, the Tigers got off to a slow start, allowing the visiting Rams to jump out to a 4-1 lead after the first period. Pacific cut into Fordham's lead at halftime, trailing by a one-goal margin of 6-5.
 
After a third frame of trading a pair of goals, the Tigers' offense exploded for five fourth-period goals, including three by Peralta. Pacific had trailed the entire game until the 3:04 marker of the fourth period when Peralta bounced in a shot to tie the game up at 9-9.
 
The Rams were able to retake the lead, 10-9, on the next possession. However, in the final critical moments of the period, Peralta found the back of the net again twice, including a 6-on-5 goal with 39 seconds left for the 11-10 edge.
 
Following a missed shot attempt by Fordham with the goalie pulled, junior Cooper Gaderson sealed the game with a goal, giving the Tigers their first home victory of the season.
 
Pacific looks to carry the momentum into the weekend, preparing for the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament in Santa Clara, Calif. beginning on Friday, Oct. 20.