LA JOLLA, Calif. - After a 2-2 tie at halftime, the 17th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team put away seven goals in the second half to take a 9-5 victory against No. 16 Santa Clara in a Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) matchup Thursday at Canyonview Aquatic Center.
With the win, the Tritons improve to 11-11 overall and 4-1 in conference play. The Broncos drop to 9-16 overall and 1-2 in the WWPA.
Santa Clara struck first as John Raineri found the back of the cage with only 28 seconds coming off the game clock. UCSD answered back with two goals from junior driver Nick Alexander to take a one-goal lead at the end of the opening quarter.
The Bronco defense locked down in the second period as the Tritons came up empty with no scores. Santa Clara got a goal from DeMarco Orella as the two teams deadlocked at halftime.
UCSD pulled away in the third quarter, burying six shots in the third frame. Senior two-meter Tyler Mancuso dominated the quarter with three straight Triton goals. The other scores came from senior utility Daniel Straub, junior utility Nassim Hmeidan and senior utility Chase Cockerill.
The Broncos outscored UCSD 2-1 in the final period, but the lead was insurmountable as the Tritons walked away with a four-goal victory.
Mancuso led the Tritons with three goals, marking his fourth hat trick of the season, and Alexander added two. Goalie Jack Turner compiled 11 saves.
Santa Clara got its five scores from five different players. Joe Maestri amassed 13 saves.
UCSD will have the weekend off before closing out the WWPA schedule when it hosts UC Davis next Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. The winner of that game will take the top seed at the WWPA Championship, hosted by Air Force, Nov. 20-22.
Box Score
UCSD 2 0 6 1 - 9
SCU 1 1 1 2 - 5
Goals
UCSD: Tyler Mancuso 3, Nick Alexander 2, Andreas Stathatos 1, Chase Cockerill 1, Nassim Hmeidan 1, Daniel Straub 1
SCU: John Raineri 1, Owen Asalone 1, Graham McClone 1, DeMarco Orella 1, Sam Torrigino 1
Saves
UCSD: Jack Turner 11
SCU: Joe Maestri 13
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