LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 8th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team dropped two games on Sunday afternoon at the Triton Invitational. UCSD began the day with a 10-8 loss to 7th-ranked UC Santa Barbara. Daniel Garcia led the Tritons with four goals, while Steven Donohoe added two goals. UCSD faced 11th-ranked UC Davis in the third-place game. The Tritons and Aggies were tied at 6-6 at halftime, but UCD outscored UCSD 5-1 in the second half to earn the 11-7 win. Garcia and Ian Bausback scored twice apiece in defeat. UC Santa Barbara edged Pepperdine 7-6 in the Championship game. UCSD is back in action next weekend at the Inland Empire Tournament in Redlands, Calif.
UCSB 10, UCSD 8
The Gauchos scored five of the first six goals of the game before a Garcia scored pulled the Tritons within 5-2 at halftime. UCSB scored the first two goals of the second half to lead 7-2 but the Tritons rebounded with two unanswered goals of their own on scores by Peter Gresham and Garcia. UCSB added a goal before the end of the third to lead 8-4 through three. UCSD trailed 10-6 in the fourth and late scores by Steven Donohoe and Jeff Hunt rounded out the scoring at 10-8 UCSB. UCSD goals: Garcia 4, Donohoe 2, Gresham, Hunt.
UC Davis 11, UCSD 7
The first period featured three ties, the last on Bausback second goal of the quarter (2:14), tying the game at 3-3. UCD scored at the 1:36 mark to lead 4-3 after one.
UCD extended the lead to 6-4 at the 4:24 mark, but the Tritons quickly responded with goals by Simon Schafer (4:00) and Hunt (3:15) to tie the game at halftime 6-6.
The Aggies shutout the Tritons 3-0 in the third quarter, which proved to be the difference. UCD scored the first goal of the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 10-6 with 5:23 remaining. Garcia scored his second goal of the game at the 3:55 mark, UCSD's final goal in the 11-7 final.
