September 12, 1998
BERKELEY, CA - The California Golden Bears defeated the University of the Pacific Tigers, 9-4, Saturday in the season opener at Spieker Pool in Berkeley.
California led Pacific, 5-2, going in to the half with the help of two-meter senior Ryan Flynn and junior driver Albert Won. Flynn tallied two goals in the first quarter, including one goal in the first 41 seconds of the match, and added a third with 2:42 left in the half. Won also scored in the final 2:33 of the first quarter and then again with 5:03 left in the second.
Sophomore driver Eldad Hazor also had an oppressive season opener, scoring in the last 17 seconds of the third quarter to boost the Bears to a 6-3 lead going into the fourth. The Bears finished strong, adding three more goals in the last quarter of the match - Won scored with 6:36 remaining, Flynn, with 5:26 remaining, and two meter freshman Mike West scored the final goal with 14 seconds left in the match, leaving the final score, 9-4.
Pacific goalkeeper Ryan Brown finished the match with eight saves, while Cal goalkeeper Peter Kiefer tallied six.
The Bears will next travel to Irvine, CA to compete in the Southern California Tournament, Sept. 19-20.
Pacific 1 1 1 1 --4
California 3 2 1 3 --9
Pacific: Donlin, Esposto, Satchkov, Yegiyants.
California: Flynn 4 , Won 3, Hazor, West.
Saves: Kiefer 6 (Cal), Brown (Pacific) 8.
Records: California 1-0, Pacific 0-1
