REDLANDS, Calif. – Strong defensive performances by the 10th-ranked Pacific men's water polo program resulted in wins of 14-9 over Cal Lutheran and 13-5 over Biola on Friday at the Axelrood Aquatics Center as part of the Inland Empire Classic.
 
It was the fourth time in five games this season that Pacific (4-1) held the opposition to under 10 goals. Junior goalkeeper Benjamin Gronbach made eight saves in game one, while freshman Kiss Gergely got the nod in game two and stopped 11 shots.
 
Offensively, freshman Apostolos Georgaras highlighted the day with 12 goals. He netted a career-high seven against Cal Lutheran (0-2) and followed it up with five against Biola (2-4).
 
Sophomore Yoav Rendler registered two goals in each game. Freshman Borisz Kasa-Gal, the reigning West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Week winner, tallied a pair of goals against Biola.
 
In game one, the Tigers got off to a slow start and trailed 5-3 late in the first quarter when it answered with eight consecutive goals to go up 11-5 and take command. It included a 6-0 second quarter as the streak lasted from the 1:44 mark of the first to the 4:11 mark of the third.
 
In game two, Pacific raced out to a 4-0 lead and shutout Biola in the first quarter. The Tigers stretched it out to a 7-2 advantage at halftime before stretching it out to 12-4 early in the fourth.
 
Pacific improved to 5-0 all-time against Cal Lutheran and 1-0 vs. Biola.
 
The Tigers will play two more matches Saturday against the host Redlands at 9 a.m. and Occidental at 2:20 p.m. at the Thompson Aquatic Center. Pacific will play its home opener Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. against third-ranked Cal at the Eberhardt Aquatics Center.
 
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