Oct. 11, 2008

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DAVIS, Calif. - Senior Adam Bennett scored three goals while senior Grant Muenter and sophomore Aaron Salit each added two, leading 13th-ranked UC Davis to a 12-7 win over 12th-ranked Santa Clara in a Western Water Polo Association men's game at Schaal Aquatics Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Aggies improve to 7-8 for the year. The Broncos dip to 12-6 overall.

In all, five of the seven Bronco goals came on 6-on-5 situations. Similarly, UC Davis scored on four of six such opportunities.

UC Davis converted its first three 6-on-5 chances early on to craft a 4-1 lead. Bennett had two of power-play goals in that span, while sophomore Cory Lyle had the third. Meanwhile, the Aggies held off a 6-on-5 chance by Santa Clara with 2:41 remaining in the period. Two Bronco shots were stopped by field blocks, while a third glanced off the hands of UC Davis goalie Kevin Peat.

Liam Farrell and Mitchell Klipa each scored man-up goals in the second quarter to cut the Aggie lead to 5-3. Then with a minute remaining in the first half, Muenter posted a steal at midtank then Lyle drew an exclusion to provide UC Davis with yet another 6-on-5 opporunity. Driscoll converted the chance to push the Aggie lead to 6-3 heading into the halftime break.

Salit scored early in the third period to extend the margin to 7-3, but the Broncos worked their back to a two-goal deficit. Klipa scored on a skip shot at 4:31 in the third then Farrell hit a man-up goal as the exclusion clock expired, brining the tally to 7-5 with 2:15 remaining. However, on the subsequent Aggie possession, Muenter scored in spectacular fashion, sending a backhanded shot across the SCU cage and into the high left corner. This ignited a 4-0 UC Davis run into the fourth. Bennett completed his hat trick with 6:18 to go, bringing the score to 11-5.

Peat finished the game with eight saves in front of the Aggie cage. Farrell, Klipa and junior Jack Wall each had two goals to lead SCU offensively.

UC Davis returns to action with a tough home weekend series, hosting No. 4 Pepperdine on Friday then defending NCAA champion California on Saturday.

GOALS - SCU: Liam Farrell 2, Mitchell Klipa 2, Jack Wall 2, Nicholas Poggetti 1. UC Davis: Adam Bennett 3, Grant Muenter 2, Aaron Salit 2, Cory Lyle 1, Danny Driscoll 1, Walter Eggert 1, Matt Richardson 1, Paul Wilson 1.

GOALIE SAVES - SCU: Michael Wishart 6. UC Davis: Kevin Peat 8.