Oct. 24, 2008

DAVIS, Calif. -

Official Scoresheet in PDF Format

Senior southpaw Grant Muenter scored a game-high three goals while redshirt freshman Kevin Peat posted nine saves to lead 11th-ranked UC Davis to a 7-5 win over 18th-ranked Pacific in a non-conference men's collegiate water polo game at Schaal Aquatics Center Friday night.

The Aggies improve to 8-10 for the season. The Tigers dip to 10-14 overall.

Senior utility Adam Bennett added two goals for UC Davis. Sophomore Aaron Salit and junior Jim Breen each chipped one. Sophomore Austin Delong led Pacific with three goals, while senior goalie Chris Domecus notched eight saves.

Muenter and Bennett each converted 6-on-5 chances in the opening quarter to help the Aggies craft a 3-1 lead through the first six minutes of play. But senior defender Shane Mahoney hit a man-up goal in the final minute of the first period and DeLong scored a goal from two meters with 2:51 remaining in the second to send the game into the halftime break locked at 3-3.

Peat came through with a pair of key saves in the second period. He stopped a Mahoney five-meter penalty shot on the opening possession, then foiled a counterattack by Tiger veteran William Milcovich. The Pacific senior managed to outrace UC Davis senior Philippe Chordas in pursuit of the Aggie cage, but Peat knocked down Milcovich's shot on the one-on-one situation.

Muenter scored the go-ahead on a 6-on-5 chance early in the third period to push UC Davis ahead by a 4-3 margin. He struck again at the 3:30 mark in the third to extend the lead by two, and assisted Jim Breen's 6-on-5 goal in the final minute of the period. Salit scored his lone goal in the third, earning inside water on the Pacific defense then converting an assist from sophomore Matt Richardson.

Junior driver Joey Rossi broke a 15-minute scoreless stretch for Pacific with a late goal in the third, but the Tigers managed to score just one goal in the fourth quarter. Peat had three key saves in the final frame to help the Aggies seal the win.

UC Davis returns to action in a home tripleheader on Sunday. The Aggies host Western Water Polo Association rival Air Force at 9 a.m. and 10th-ranked Long Beach State at 4 p.m. The Falcons and 49ers also square off in neutral-site action at 12:30 that afternoon.

GOALS - PAC: Austin DeLong 3, Shane Mahoney 1, Joe Rossi 1. UC Davis: Grant Muenter 3, Adam Bennett 2, Aaron Salit 1, Jim Breen 1.

GOALIE SAVES - PAC: Chris Domecus 8 (32:00). UC Davis: Kevin Peat 9 (32:00).