LA JOLLA, Calif. - The 13th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team faced No. 12 UC Davis at the Coggan Family Aquatic Complex on Friday evening, winning by a 9-7 final score. The Tritons record now stands at 6-7 on the year, while the Aggies fall to 9-5.
An Aggies goal within the first 30 seconds of play kicked off a rough first period for the Tritons, with UCSD falling behind 3-1 after the opening eight minutes of play. The Tritons called timeout after a scoreless first five minutes of the second period, and immediately came out of the break with a goal by
Sean Roberts to bring UCSD to within one.
Bryce Madsen's second goal of the game tied the score with 1:19.30 remaining in the first half as part of a 6-on-5 for the Tritons.
Peter Gresham then scored UCSD's fourth straight goal to give the team the lead less than five seconds before halftime.
UC Davis found the net again in the second half, scoring at the 4:51.61 point of the third period. Madsen's third goal of the game broke the time just over 30 seconds later. The Aggies and Tritons traded goals again with under three minutes remaining in the third, as Kevin Driscoll scored for UCD and Gresham responded with his second goal of the game at the 2:22.22 mark of the third.
The fourth period started off with a goal by Ian Bausback, 1:07 into the period, to put the Tritons ahead by two. UC Davis climbed back within one with 3:51 left to play following a Triton ejection and then tied the game just over one minute later. Steven Donohoe's goal helped the Tritons recapture the lead with 2:25 remaining in the game. Following an Aggies timeout with 1:47.73 left to play, head coach Denny Harper's team was able to extend their lead with Roberts' second goal of the game and held on for the win.
"I'm trying to help my team in any way, so if they're going to leave me open, I'm going to shoot it," said Madsen following his three goal game. "We wanted to come out and get this win to feel confident going into our Southern California Tournament next week."
UC San Diego returns to action October 9 on the road at Chapman with a slated start time of 4 p.m. The Tritons will then take part in the SoCal Tournament October 10-11 in Irvine.
SCORING SUMMARY
UCSD 9, UCD 7
UCSD 1 - 3 - 2 - 3 = 9
UCD 3 - 0 - 2 - 2 = 7
Goals
UCSD: B. Madsen 3, S. Roberts 2, P. Gresham 2, I. Bausback, S. Donohoe.
UCD: J. Clapham 2, C. Lyle, M. Richardson, J. Breen, C. Hicks, K. Driscoll.
1st Period
7:31 Breen (UCD) 0-1
6:08 Clapham (UCD) 0-2
5:09 Clapham (UCD) 0-3
2:15 Madsen (UCSD) 1-3
2nd Period
2:46 Roberts (UCSD) 2-3
1:19 Madsen (UCSD) 3-3
0:05 Gresham (UCSD) 4-3
3rd Period
4:51 Richardson (UCD) 4-4
4:17 Madsen (UCSD) 5-4
2:50 Driscoll (UCD) 5-5
2:22 Gresham (UCSD) 6-5
4th Period
6:52 I. Bausback (UCSD) 7-5
3:50 Lyle (UCD) 7-6
2:45 Hicks (UCD) 7-7
2:25 S. Donohoe (UCSD) 8-7
1:16 Roberts (UCSD) 9-7
Attendance: 301
