BERKELEY, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara men's water polo team (15-7) dropped both of its matchups this weekend by one goal, first losing 9-8 to No. 7 Pacific on Saturday at Chris Kjeldsen Pool, and then falling 14-13 to No. 2 Cal on Sunday at Spieker Aquatics Complex.
HOW IT HAPPENED
No. 7 Pacific 9, No. 6 UCSB 8
- Pacific outscored UCSB 4-1 in the first quarter and maintained the three-goal lead heading into the halftime break after both teams matched each other with two goals apiece in the second period.
- The Gauchos fought back in the second half, with Adam Gyenis, Sam Nangle, Sawyer Rhodes, and Connor Macdonald scoring for the blue and gold to better Pacific's two-goal output in the third quarter and bring UCSB within one.
- In a twist to the Gauchos' comeback bid, Pacific's Djordje Stanic struck first in the fourth quarter with 5:25 to go, crucially putting the Tigers up by two.
- Pacific successfully held off the Gauchos to take the win, allowing a lone goal in the final period when Nathan Puentes struck with 3:36 to go.
No. 2 Cal 14, No. 6 UCSB 13
- The Gauchos scored six goals in both the first and second periods to lead 12-7 at the half. Rhodes had five goals in the first half, while Puentes had two. Nangle, Mason Chambliss, Tommy Hawkins, Dash McFarland, and Leo Yuno each had two apiece.
- Cal scored the only goal of the third quarter, when Max Casabella found the back of the cage with a shot at the six-minute mark.
- In the final frame, the Golden Bears came all the way back to take the lead with 1:37 left on a Jack Deely effort. Puentes tied the game back up at 13-13 with 1:19 remaining on a penalty shot, but Cal's Garrett Dunn put away the game-winner inside the final minute, dealing UCSB its fourth loss in the past five games.
UP NEXT
- The Gauchos head to Santa Clara for the 2021 Santa Clara Rodeo Tournament next weekend. Game information can be found on UCSBGauchos.com in the coming days.
