LOS ANGELES — The No. 17 UC Santa Barbara Men's Water Polo team finished their weekend in Los Angeles with yet another close game on Sunday, falling to No. 15 Santa Clara, 11-10. Danilo Dragovic had a game-high four goals and Sam McKenzie a hat-trick for the Gauchos.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Santa Barbara scored first, with McKenzie finding the net, but the Gauchos trailed after the first quarter, 3-1. But they fought back, with Dragovic leading a second-quarter rally. The Montenegrin had three goals in the period alone, with Camren Simoncelli scoring to give Santa Barbara a 4-3 lead with just under two minutes until halftime. Santa Clara scored twice to re-take the lead before halftime, but there was still enough time for Dragovic to get his third goal and re-tie the game. But again, there was still enough time and the Broncos scored another late goal to lead at the half, 6-5.
 
Santa Clara scored the first goal after halftime to go up by two, but again the Gauchos rallied. McKenzie scored twice in the frame, and Kai Ross scored in the last minute of the quarter to tie the scores at eight heading into the fourth. Again, the teams traded goals, with Luke Redoutey answering a Bronco score to keep it 9-9. After taking a 10-9 lead, Santa Clara scored again to go up by two goals with a minute and a half left. The Gauchos scored next, with Dragovic getting his fourth of the day, but it was with just six seconds left and so was nothing more than consolation.
 
UP NEXT
Santa Barbara's home opener is up next, with the Gauchos set to host No. 9 Pacific at Dos Pueblos High School on Sunday, Sept. 28. The start is set for 12 noon, and admission is free.