Oct. 17, 2004

BERKELEY, CA - UC Santa Barbara's Ramiro Saldain scored with 2:04 left in the second overtime period, as the No. 4-ranked California men's water polo team (10-6, 0-3) lost a heartbreaker to the No. 5-ranked Gauchos (16-5, 2-0), 7-6 in overtime Sunday at Spieker Aquatics Complex. It was Cal's fifth consecutive loss, and the first loss of the season to a team ranked lower than the Bears.

Ross Sinclair, who led UCSB with three goals on the day, had given the Gauchos a 6-5 lead when he scored with 31 second in the first overtime period. The Bears' sophomore driver Andrija Vasiljevic countered with a goal with four seconds remaining in the first three-minute overtime period to tie the contest, 6-6, entering the second three-minute overtime period.

The match had gone back-and-forth the entire day. Sinclair scored the opening goal with 27 seconds left in the first period. Junior Tom Kurth netted Cal's first goal with 6:49 in the second period. UCSB then jumped out to a 4-1 lead with three straight goals at the end of the second period and the beginning of the third period. The Bears battled back to tie the contest, 4-4, on a goal by John Mann and two goals by Brian Kinsel. Sinclair again put the Gauchos on top with a goal with 4:32 left in the match, but Mann sent the match into overtime with a goal with 1:08 left in the fourth period.

Junior goalie Jon Bonafede was outstanding for UCSB with 18 saves for the match. Cal's junior goalie Nate Bennett finished with 10 saves.

The Bears will next travel to Long Beach State, Saturday, Oct. 23 and UC Irvine, Sunday, Oct. 24. Both matches will begin at noon.

UCSB (15-5, 2-0) 1-2-1-1-1-1---7
Cal (10-6, 0-3) 0-1-2-2-1-0---6
UCSB Goals: Ross Sinclair 3, Ramiro Saldain 2,
Brian Alexander, Jarrod Muenter,
Cal Goals: Brian Kinsel 2, John Mann 2, Tom Kurth,
Andrija Vasiljevic
Goalie Saves: Jon Bonafede (UCSB) 18,
Nate Bennett (Cal) 10;
Derek Schauffler (Cal) 1