LOS ANGELES, Calif. ? The 3rd-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team finished the first day of the Southern California Tournament with two wins after downing 7th-ranked Pacific 12-11. A.J. Kotanjian scored three times to pace UCSD. Jesse Casellini and Ty Lackey added two goals apiece. Against Air Force, UCSD won 10-7 as Lackey scored three times and Casellini, Adnan Jerkovic and Steven Donohoe each added two scores. Kotanjian also scored.
In the win over Pacific, UCSD and UOP scored three goals each in the first period, and two goals each in the second period. In the third, UCSD put up five goals, to Pacific's four, the only quarter in which one team outscored the other. In addition to Kotanjian's three goals, and Casellini and Lackey's two goals, Nestor Dordoni, Jeff Hunt, Steven Donohoe, Daniel Garcia and Peter Gresham scored for the Tritons.
Against Air Force, UCSD trailed after one, but scored four times in the second to take a 5-4 halfime lead. The Tritons extended the lead in the third and fourth quarters for the win.
UCSD is back in action tomorrow for the semifinal match at the Southern California Tournament.
