California Golden Bears Athletics
California
UC Davis
No. 3 Cal Men's Water Polo Defeats UC Davis, 12-4, in Home Opener
9/10/2009 12:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 10, 2009
BERKELEY, CALIF. - The No. 3-ranked Cal men's water polo team jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back, defeating No. 17-ranked UC Davis, 12-4, Thursday, Sept. 10 in the 2009 home opener for the Golden Bears at Spieker Aquatics Complex. Cal - which was led by senior captain Mike Sample and sophomores Cory Nasoff, Ivan Rackov and Charlie Steffens with two goals apiece - improved to 5-0 on the year and have outscored its opponents, 87-23, this season. The Aggies fell in their season-opener.
The Bears scored the first six goals of the match behind two first period goals from Sample and Steffens' counterattack goal off an assist from junior goalie Jacob McIntosh. Cal then followed with consecutive second period goals from sophomore Zach Greenwood, redshirt freshman Mason Cox and Nasoff, before UC Davis got on the board on freshman Colin Hicks' five-meter penalty shot with 1:20 left in the first half.
The Bears started the second half on a 4-0 run behind goals from Rackov, Steffens, junior Zach White and senior All-American Spencer Warden for a 10-1 lead. The Aggies' Hicks again was able to stop Cal's run with a goal at 2:20 left in the third period for the second of his three goals.
The Bears outscored UC Davis, 2-1, fourth quarter for the final 12-4 margin. Rackov, from Belgrade, Serbia, had a solid all-around match for Cal with a team-high four steals and three assists.
Cal will next compete against some of the top teams in the nation during the NorCal Open, Sept. 19-20, at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Complex.
Cal 12, UC Davis 4 UC Davis 0 1 2 1 4 Cal 3 3 4 2 12UC Davis Goals: Colin Hicks 3, Anders MacCarthy.
Cal Goals: Cory Nasoff 2, Mike Sample 2, Ivan Rackov 2, Charlie Steffens 2, Mason Cox, Spencer Warden, Zach White, Zach Greenwood.
UC Davis Goalie Saves: Kevin Peat 6, Erik Quinn 1
Cal Goalie Saves: Jacob McIntosh 4, Justin Parsons 2
