COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The 16th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team came back from two goals down in the third quarter to defeat No. 17 Santa Clara in the first round of the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championship, hosted by Air Force, Friday at Cadet Natatorium. The third-seeded Tritons will play Air Force in their semifinal matchup.
With the win, UCSD improves to a 12-13 overall record. The Broncos drop to 11-20 overall.
The Tritons fired home two goals in the first 57 seconds, coming from redshirt freshman driver Cole Martinez and junior utility Nassim Hmeidan, to start. SCU answered back with two consecutive scores of their own to tie the game. The two teams traded goals to end the opening quarter deadlocked, 3-3.
UCSD took a two-score lead after junior utility Jack Ellinthorpe and junior driver Andy Moore put away their shots. Later in the period, Martinez was able to find the back of the cage again as the Tritons led by one, 6-5, at halftime.
The Broncos opened the third quarter with three consecutive goals to take a two-score advantage, 8-6, over the Tritons. UCSD fired home four scores before the end of the period to take back the lead. After senior utility Daniel Straub cut the margin to one, Alexander was able to draw a five-meter penalty shot, which he was able to convert, to tie the game.
The Tritons then took the lead on a six-on-four goal by Ellinthorpe after two SCU players drew exclusions. With six seconds remaining, senior utility Chase Cockerill was able to find the back of the cage with a lob over Bronco goalie Joe Maestri.
UCSD's defense came up big in the final period, as SCU was only able to score a goal.
"Anytime you're going to try to beat a team a fourth time in one season, it's pretty difficult," said head coach Denny Harper. "I'm certainly pleased with the way we closed it out. I do think that playing this game is going to pay dividends in terms of getting into a groove of what to expect playing in this altitude of 7200 feet."
Straub, Martinez, Ellinthorpe and Alexander each had two goals to lead the Tritons. Jack Turner amassed nine saves.
Graham McClone and John Raineri paced the Broncos with two scores each. Maestri compiled 15 saves.
The Tritons will continue their quest for their 18th conference title on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m., against Air Force.
BOX SCORE
UCSD 3 3 4 1 - 11
SCU 3 2 3 1 - 9
Goals
UCSD: Daniel Straub 2, Cole Martinez 2, Jack Ellinthorpe 2, Nick Alexander 2, Chase Cockerill, Nassim Hmeidan, Andy Moore
SCU: Graham McClone 2, John Raineri 2, Garrat Johnson, Demarco Orella, Julian Fraser, Owen Asalone, Matt Godar
Saves
UCSD: Jack Turner 9
SCU: Joe Maestri 15
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