Sept. 7, 2006

BERKELEY, CALIF. - The No. 1-ranked California men's water polo team (6-0) broke away from a 4-4 tie after the first period to dominate No. 8 Pacific (2-3), 20-8, Thursday at Spieker Aquatics Complex. The Golden Bears, playing their first home match of the 2006 season, were led by three goals apiece from senior All-American John Mann, junior All-American Michael Sharf, and junior Zac Monsees. Twelve different players scored for Cal.

The Bears started the match off with three straight scores from Sharf, Mann and senior Brian Kinsel, last week's MPSF Player of the Week. The Tigers came storming back, tallying four straight scores, with Andy Skora's shot giving Pacific a 4-3 lead with 1:51 left in the opening period. Cal's Sharf tied the contest with a score off an assist from senior Andrija Vasiljevic with 1:27 in the first period.

After the first seven minutes, the Bears went on to outscore the Tigers, 16-4, scoring seven straight goals before UOP found the net with a little more than six minutes left in the third period. Besides the three goals apiece from Mann, Sharf and Monsees, sophomore Trent Calder and Kevin Platshon added two goals each. Sophomore goalie Marc Vacquier finished with eight saves, two assists and three steals. Vasiljevic paced Cal with four assists, Monsees and redshirt freshman Spencer Warden had three steals apiece, and Mann and Calder forced two ejections each. The Bears were 20-for-39 on their shot attempts.

Evan Garcia led the Tigers with two goals, including a score with 18 seconds left in the match. UOP goalie finished with 11 saves.

The Bears next hosts UC Davis on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. at Spieker Aquatics Complex, before entertaining an Alumni squad at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 9.

Pacific 4 0 2 2 - 8
California 4 4 6 6 - 20
UOP GOALS: Garcia 2, Kaurloto, Mitchell,
Skora, Hollis, Bakic, Milcovich
CAL GOALS: Sharf 3, Mann 3, Monsees 3,
Platshon 2, Calder 2, Kinsel, Hayes,
Matthies, Warden, Tyrrell, Cruikshank, Jones
GOALIE SAVES: Vacquier (Cal) 8;
Andres (UOP) 11