LA JOLLA, Calif. ? In a game which saw a combined 10 goals scored in the third period and a total of six ties, the 12th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team lost to 8th-ranked UC Santa Barbara by a 13-10 score in front of 1,003 fans at Canyonview Pool on Friday night. The Tritons scored the first two goals of the game and led 7-5 with 6:08 remaining in the third period. UCSB scored three straight and led by one goal entering the final period. UCSB outscored the Tritons 3-1 in the final period to close out the win. Daniel Garcia provided a game-high five goals for the Tritons, while Steven Donohoe added two scores. The loss drops the Tritons to 9-7, while the Gauchos improve to 12-7.
In addition to Garcia's five goals and Donohoe's two scores, Curtis Williamson, Sean Roberts and Peter Gresham added goals for the Tritons.
UCSB was led by Milos Golic and Zsombor Vincze with three scores apiece. Ross Sinclair Miles Price and Mark Knudsen scored twice each, while Dane Lindstrom also scored.
UCSD led 2-1 after the first period on goals by Roberts and Garcia.
In the second quarter, the teams would tie at 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4, before UCSB's Golic scored with :37 left before half, giving the Gauchos a 5-4 lead at the break.
UCSD scored the first three goals of the third quarter and jumped in front by a 7-5 score on two Donohoe goals, sandwiched around a Williamson goal. UCSB rallied back with two scores, and a third at the 3:03 mark to retake the lead at 8-7. UCSD's Garcia responded with a score at the 2:47 mark, tying the game at 8-8. UCSB returned the favor with a goal with 1:47 left. Garcia answered again with a strike at the 1:08 mark, tying the game for what would be the final time at 9-9. UCSB scored with :20 left, giving the Gauchos the 10-9 advantage through three.
UCSB won the sprint to start the fourth quarter and scored to open up an 11-9 lead. The Tritons would cut it to 11-10 on Gresham's goal with 7:07 remaining. UCSB's defense prevailed the rest of the way, and the Gauchos added goals at the 4:20 and 3:08 marks to close the scoring at 13-10 UCSB.
UCSD is back in action on Saturday when it takes on No. 7 Long Beach State. First sprint is set for 12:00 p.m. at Canyonview Pool.
