No. 5 Pacific Remains Unbeaten after Victories Over No. 15 LMU, No. 8 UC Irvine
LOS ANGELES – Improving to 8-0 on the season, the fifth-ranked Pacific men's water polo program pulled out a 13-11 win over No. 15 LMU before rolling No. 8 UC Irvine 16-9 on Saturday at the Burns Aquatic Center.
The win over LMU (3-3) counted as a non-conference match as the Tigers erased a 7-4 third quarter deficit. The victory over UC Irvine (3-5) was a neutral site competition as Pacific darted out to a 12-4 halftime advantage and never looked back.
Reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Week winner Mihailo Vukazic netted nine goals on the day. It included seven against the Anteaters which matched his season-high.
Graduate Matthew Hosmer netted a pair of hat tricks. Senior Jeremie Cote tallied a pair of goals in each game.
In net, graduate Bae Fountain played the full way in both contests and totaled 15 saves.
The Tigers fell behind LMU early as the Lions scored the first three goals of the game. LMU was up 7-4 with 5:18 left in the third and was still in front 8-7 at the end of the third.
Pacific grabbed the momentum early in the fourth on a equalizing goal by Hosmer. The Tigers grabbed their first lead of the day 10-9 on a score by freshman Ori Buzaglo with 6:05 remaining.
After the Lions tied it 10-10, the ultimate game-winner came from Hosmer with 4:41 to go. Senior Reuel D'Souza and Buzaglo added insurance tallies late.
Against the Anteaters, Pacific pounced early and scored six goals in each of the first two quarters. It included five scores from Vukazic.
UC Irvine never came within striking distance as the Tigers limited the Anteaters to just one goal in the third and led 13-5. Vukazic added two more goals in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers will remain on the road next weekend when it travels to UC San Diego for a 6 p.m. Saturday match. Pacific will play its home opener Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. against Long Beach State at the Eberhardt Aquatics Center.
Stay Social
For all the latest on Pacific men's water polo, be sure to follow the team on X (@UOPWaterPoloU), Instagram (@pacificwaterpolo) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (Pacific Men's Water Polo).
#PacificProud
The win over LMU (3-3) counted as a non-conference match as the Tigers erased a 7-4 third quarter deficit. The victory over UC Irvine (3-5) was a neutral site competition as Pacific darted out to a 12-4 halftime advantage and never looked back.
Reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Week winner Mihailo Vukazic netted nine goals on the day. It included seven against the Anteaters which matched his season-high.
Graduate Matthew Hosmer netted a pair of hat tricks. Senior Jeremie Cote tallied a pair of goals in each game.
In net, graduate Bae Fountain played the full way in both contests and totaled 15 saves.
The Tigers fell behind LMU early as the Lions scored the first three goals of the game. LMU was up 7-4 with 5:18 left in the third and was still in front 8-7 at the end of the third.
Pacific grabbed the momentum early in the fourth on a equalizing goal by Hosmer. The Tigers grabbed their first lead of the day 10-9 on a score by freshman Ori Buzaglo with 6:05 remaining.
Pacific has erased a three-goal second half deficit to come back and take a 10-9 lead over LMU with 6 mins left in the fourth quarter.#PacificProud || #DreamBig || #WaterPoloU pic.twitter.com/6rMbLT58xs
— Pacific Water Polo (@UOPWaterPoloU) September 21, 2024
After the Lions tied it 10-10, the ultimate game-winner came from Hosmer with 4:41 to go. Senior Reuel D'Souza and Buzaglo added insurance tallies late.
Against the Anteaters, Pacific pounced early and scored six goals in each of the first two quarters. It included five scores from Vukazic.
UC Irvine never came within striking distance as the Tigers limited the Anteaters to just one goal in the third and led 13-5. Vukazic added two more goals in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers will remain on the road next weekend when it travels to UC San Diego for a 6 p.m. Saturday match. Pacific will play its home opener Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. against Long Beach State at the Eberhardt Aquatics Center.
Stay Social
For all the latest on Pacific men's water polo, be sure to follow the team on X (@UOPWaterPoloU), Instagram (@pacificwaterpolo) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (Pacific Men's Water Polo).
#PacificProud
