REDLANDS, Calif. ? The 11th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team split its two games on Sunday at the Inland Empire Tournament in Redlands. UCSD began the day with a 13-4 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Chance Vermilyea and Daniel Garcia led the way with four goals apiece. The Tritons faced the tournament host Redlands Bulldogs in the second game and fell by a 12-10 score. UCSD was outscored by one goal in the first and fourth quarters. Garcia led the way with three goals, while Vermilyea added two scores. In both match-ups, Adam Rule was the goalie in the first-half with eight total saves, while Mark Stemler was the second-half goalie for the Tritons, recording nine total saves.
In the win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, the Tritons led 5-2 after the first quarter and 8-4 at halftime. UCSD shutout Claremont in the following two quarters for the win. In addition to Vermilyea and Garcia scoring four goals apiece, Curtis Williamson, Jeff Hunt, Peter Gresham, Simon Schafer and Steven Donohoe also scored. Rule recorded four saves while Stemler totaled five saves.
UCSD trailed 4-3 after the first quarter to Redlands. The teams would match goals and score four and three goals each in the following two periods. With a one-goal lead in the fourth, the Bulldogs shutout the Tritons and added one more score, giving Redlands the win. Garcia scored three times, while Vermilyea added two scores. Other Triton scorers included Ben Miller, Williamson, Hunt, Sean Roberts and Donohoe. Rule and Stemler each recorded four saves.
UCSD is back in action next weekend at the Northern California Tournament on September 15-16. The Tritons will play two games on each day in Berkeley, Calif.
