REDLANDS, Calif. – The fifth-ranked UC Santa Barbara men's water polo team (6-1) defeated all three of its opponents on the opening day of the Inland Empire Classic tournament on Saturday at Thompson Aquatic Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game one: No. 5 UCSB 29, Chapman 7
- 13 different Gauchos scored as UCSB scored a season-high 29 goals in the opener against Chapman.
- Sophomore attacker Colton Gregory and junior attacker Sam Nangle led the way with five goals each, and senior attacker Sawyer Rhodes and senior driver Nathan Puentes each had had tricks.
- The Gauchos led 7-1 after the first period and 13-2 at the half, but they ramped up the offensive output to the tune of an 11-goal showing in the third period.
Game two: No. 5 UCSB 27, Occidental 7
- For the second time in as many weeks, UCSB defeated Occidental in a tournament contest. This time around, Puentes and senior attacker Leo Yuno had the most goals on the team with four, and the freshman trio of driver Adam Gyenis, center Dash McFarland, and attacker Henry Allen recording respective hat tricks.
- The Gauchos scored six in the first quarter on a pair of goals from Puentes and one each from Yuno, McFarland, Gyenis and sophomore center James Oriskovich, but Occidental scored three of its own for the lead to be narrowed to three entering the second period.
- However, it was smooth sailing for UCSB afterward as the blue and gold outscored the Tigers 7-2 in the second period, 4-0 in the third, and 10-2 in the fourth.
Game three: No. 5 UCSB 28, Redlands 8
- Junior driver Ryan Brosnan totaled six assists as UCSB completed its third 20+ goal victory of the day in Redlands. Sophomore attacker Mason Chambliss scored four goals and five other Gauchos – Rhodes, Gregory, Gyenis, Puentes, and sophomore attacker Logan Sutter – fired their way to hat tricks.
- The Gauchos' junior goalkeeper Danny Roland shut Redlands out in the first quarter and didn't allow his first goal until there was 5:55 remaining in the second period.
NEXT UP
- The Gauchos switch venues to finish the Inland Empire Classic tomorrow, facing La Verne at 9:00 a.m. and Whittier at 1:30 p.m. in La Verne. The games will be streamed, with links available on UCSBGauchos.com.
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