Aggies men’s water polo stay undefeated in conference play with 13-11 win over UOP

Hat tricks and a fourth-period scoring run secure UC Davis’ third conference win

By ALEXIA NAVARRO GARCIA— sports@theaggie.org

On Oct. 16, the UC Davis Aggies men’s water polo took on the visiting University of the Pacific (UOP) Tigers at Schaal Aquatics Center, winning 13-11.

The Tigers struck first in the opening period with a goal from utility player Borisz Kasa-Gal less than a minute into the contest. Center Luka Palavra, a second-year undeclared major, responded with the Aggies’ first goal of the game.

The teams continued to trade goals for the remainder of the first period. Kasa-Gal delivered another goal for the Tigers, while attacker Lucas Wulfhorst, a first-year undeclared major, scored for UC Davis. Both teams ended the first period tied 2-2.

UC Davis struck first in the second period with a goal from attacker Oleg Shatskikh, a third-year mechanical engineering major, at 5:04. UOP’s attacker Yoav Rendler responded with a goal for the Tigers, followed by a power-play goal from the Aggies’ Wulfhorst. In a low-scoring period, the Aggies held a narrow 4-3 lead going into halftime.

The Aggies returned in the third period with another power-play goal from Shatskikh. UOP answered by scoring three goals in three minutes, with Petar Popovic accounting for two and center Ori Buzaglo scoring the third. 

Individual scoring performances became a defining feature of the matchup. Wulfhorst recorded his first hat trick of the night and his ninth hat trick of the season, while Popovic completed a hat trick for UOP with his third goal of the game. 

The teams continued to trade goals throughout the third period. Attacker Lucas Ruano, a second-year political science major, scored his first goal of the night for Davis at 1:05. Kasa-Gal sent the ball into the cage to complete his hat trick for the Tigers 23 seconds later.

With 16 seconds remaining in the third period, attacker Austin Quick, a third-year environmental science and management major, scored to keep the game tied at 8-8. The late goal gave the Aggies a chance to enter the final period on level terms after UOP’s three-goal run threatened to swing the game in the Tigers’ favor.

UC Davis began the fourth period with three consecutive goals from three attackers: Timothy Kerr, a fourth-year electrical engineering major; Thomas Kiesling, a fourth-year economics major; and Quick. The scoring run gave the Aggies an 11-8 lead and marked a crucial turning point in the match-up.

The Tigers attempted to rally under the 2:30 remaining. Attacker Gabor Holl scored to cut into the Aggies’ lead, but UC Davis continued to answer UOP’s scoring efforts with a power-play goal from attacker Oriol Viñas, a second-year undeclared major. The Aggies maintained their advantage as the Tigers attempted to regain momentum.

Holl returned with another goal, but Kiesling responded with his second goal of the night to extend UC Davis’ lead. With under a minute remaining in regulation, attacker Brody Biedermann scored for UOP in an attempt to give the Tigers late hope.

Despite UOP’s late scoring efforts, UC Davis maintained its lead to secure the 13-11 victory. With the win, UC Davis improved to 11-7 overall and 3-0 in Mountain West conference play. 

The Aggies return home on Nov. 1 to take on the Saint Mary's College Gaels at Schaal Aquatics Center at 1 p.m. in a Mountain West conference contest. 

Written by: Alexia Navarro Garcia — sports@theaggie.org