California
Navy Invitational
9/4/2005 12:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 4, 2005
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - The No. 2-ranked California men's water polo team finished its season-opening tournament 3-0, defeating host Navy, 9-3, Sunday at LeJeune Hall Pool at the Navel Academy campus. The Golden Bears had captured its first two matches of the Navy Open, defeating Bucknell, 11-2, Saturday morning, before topping No. 12-ranked St. Francis, 11-8, Saturday evening. Cal also defeated Water Polo Planet Euro, 17-6, in an exhibition match Sunday morning.
Against Navy, the Bears were led by senior goalie Nate Bennett and junior All-American John Mann. Bennett finished with an impressive 12 saves to go along with two steals and an assist. Mann was Cal's leading scorer with four goals, while junior captain Brian Bacharach added two goals. Juniors Brian Kinsel and Andrija Vasiljevic, and true freshman Sean Buckner also tallied scores for the Bears.
Another top effort for Cal against Navy was sophomore Michael Sharf's team-leading three assists. Vasiljevic and Mann recorded two steals apiece. Mann finished the three matches at the Navy Open with a team-high 10 goals.
In the exhibition match against Water Polo Planet Euro, Kinsel and sophomore Kevin Platshon had two goals apiece to lead the Bears. Cal will next travel to Pacific on Saturday, Sept. 10, with time TBA.
California 3 2 3 1 - 9 Navy 1 1 1 0 - 3CAL GOALS: Mann 4, Bacharach 2, Kinsel, Vasiljevic, Buckner
GOALIE SAVES: Bennett (Cal) 12
