LOS ANGELES – Improving to 8-0 on the season, the fifth-ranked Pacific men's water polo program pulled out a 13-11 win over No. 15 LMU before rolling No. 8 UC Irvine 16-9 on Saturday at the Burns Aquatic Center.
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The win over LMU (3-3) counted as a non-conference match as the Tigers erased a 7-4 third quarter deficit. The victory over UC Irvine (3-5) was a neutral site competition as Pacific darted out to a 12-4 halftime advantage and never looked back.
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Reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Week winner
Mihailo Vukazic netted nine goals on the day. It included seven against the Anteaters which matched his season-high.
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Graduate
Matthew Hosmer netted a pair of hat tricks. Senior
Jeremie Cote tallied a pair of goals in each game.
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In net, graduate
Bae Fountain played the full way in both contests and totaled 15 saves.
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The Tigers fell behind LMU early as the Lions scored the first three goals of the game. LMU was up 7-4 with 5:18 left in the third and was still in front 8-7 at the end of the third.
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Pacific grabbed the momentum early in the fourth on a equalizing goal by Hosmer. The Tigers grabbed their first lead of the day 10-9 on a score by freshman
Ori Buzaglo with 6:05 remaining.
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After the Lions tied it 10-10, the ultimate game-winner came from Hosmer with 4:41 to go. Senior
Reuel D'Souza and Buzaglo added insurance tallies late.
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Against the Anteaters, Pacific pounced early and scored six goals in each of the first two quarters. It included five scores from Vukazic.
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UC Irvine never came within striking distance as the Tigers limited the Anteaters to just one goal in the third and led 13-5. Vukazic added two more goals in the fourth quarter.
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The Tigers will remain on the road next weekend when it travels to UC San Diego for a 6 p.m. Saturday match. Pacific will play its home opener Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. against Long Beach State at the Eberhardt Aquatics Center.
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Stay Social
For all the latest on Pacific men's water polo, be sure to follow the team on X (
@UOPWaterPoloU), Instagram (
@pacificwaterpolo) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (
Pacific Men's Water Polo).
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#PacificProud
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