STOCKTON, Calif. – Behind hat tricks from junior Ran Souva and graduate student Stefan Vavic on Senior Night, the #18 Pacific men's water polo team downed Air Force, 14-12, Friday at the Douglass M. Eberhardt Aquatics Center.
 
For the first time in program history, the Tigers earned a West Coast Conference victory, improving to 1-3 in conference play and 12-11 overall on the year.
 
"Winning feels great," said Pacific head coach James Graham. "Getting that first conference win and building toward the tournament, I think it was a key step for us. I think there were a lot of good things to build from tonight."
 
Souva led the offense from right out of the gates, securing his second hat trick of the season in the first half of the contest.
 
"It feels amazing," said Souva, who was one of the two players honored before the game. "Senior Night is special for everybody. I'm happy about the way I performed."
 
Vavic added a five-point night, including three goals for the third game in a row. Junior Gil Gvishi and fifth-year senior Rene Peralta extended their season-long point streaks with a goal each.
 
Defensively, freshman goalie Benjamin Gronbach drew the starting assignment, defending the cage with a season-high ten saves.
 
The Tigers got off to a strong start, leading 3-1 after eight minutes of action. Souva lit the fire underneath the Tigers' attack with a pair of goals in the opening quarter.
 
The second period saw both teams score left and right quickly as Pacific carried a 9-6 lead into halftime.
 
Air Force mounted a counterattack in the third period, gaining momentum with three goals out of the break, compared to the Tigers' two.
 
Pacific slowed down the Falcons in the fourth and final frame, eventually exchanging three goals apiece. With the Falcons on the Tigers' heels, it was junior Filip Norell who sealed the game late with an insurance goal from the middle, giving the Tigers a 14-12 victory at home.
 
The Tigers look to carry the momentum from the Senior Night win into their final road trip of the regular season, starting with #5 Pepperdine on Friday, November 10 at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.