California
Uc Irvine
10/24/2004 12:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 24, 2004
IRVINE, CA - Despite three goals from Cal sophomore Andrija Vasiljevic, No. 8 UC Irvine held off the No. 5 Golden Bears, 8-7, Sunday in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation water polo action at the Anteater Aquatics Complex. Cal is now 11-7 overall and 1-4 in MPSF play, while UC Irvine improves to 11-8, 2-2 in the MPSF.
Rick Merlo scored back-to-back goals with 2:24 and 20 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Anteaters a 4-2 lead at halftime. The teams exchanged three goals each throughout the third quarter as UCI maintained its two-goal lead at 7-5 entering the fourth period. Anteater sophomore Cole Bitter scored an extra-man goal with 3:52 left in regulation to extend the lead to 8-5 but Cal answered quickly.
The Bears' Vasiljevic scored with 3:30 remaining and freshman teammate Jeff Tyrrell converted a goal just 19 seconds later to pull the Bears within 8-7 with 3:11 left. Cal narrowly missed several scoring opportunities in the final minute, including a shot that hit the crossbar as time expired on a late power-play chance.
Junior goalie Joe Wynne had six saves for UCI (11-8, 2-2 MPSF), which won its third consecutive game. Junior Nate Bennett recorded six stops for Cal, which fell to 11-7 overall and 1-4 in the MPSF.
The Bears next host Loyola Marymount, Friday, Oct. 29 at 3:30 p.m. at Spieker Aquatics Complex. Cal then hosts Pepperdine, Saturday, Oct. 30 with time TBA.
California ---- 1 - 1 - 3 - 2 --- 7 UC Irvine ----- 0 - 4 - 3 - 1 --- 8Cal: Vasiljevic 3, Mann, Bacharach, Kinsel, Tyrrell.
UCI: R. Merlo 3, Barry, Noon, Peters, Mello, Bitter.
Saves: Bennett (Cal) 6; Wynne (UCI) 6.
