Nov. 9, 2008

DAVIS, Calif. - Senior utility Adam Bennett scored three first-quarter goals while Philippe Chordas and Aaron Salit each added two to lead 11th-ranked UC Davis to a 14-3 victory over UC Santa Cruz in a Western Water Polo Association men's game at Schaal Aquatics Center Sunday afternoon.

The Aggies improve to 10-14 for the year. The Banana Slugs fall to 6-17.

UC Davis honored its seven senior student-athletes by starting the entire group, including two-meter defender Adam Lindsay, who donned the red goalie cap for the first quarter of play. The 2008 Aggie senior class comprises Bennett, Lindsay, Chordas, Grant Muenter, Paul Wilson, Alex Dewar and Danny Driscoll.

The all-senior group piled up seven goals in the first quarter while allowing just one UCSC shot off the cage. Bennett completed his hat trick just after the midpoint of the period. Chordas and Dewar each hit five-meter penalty shots and Wilson delivered a back-handed goal from two meters during that run.

Sophomore Carlos Martinez figured on both Aggie goals in the second period, assisting Salit for a goal at the 1:04 mark, then scoring a goal of his own during a counterattack to end the half. UC Davis lead 9-0 at the break.

Shortly after Chordas scored his second goal on a 6-on-5 transition opportunity, UCSC finally broke the long scoreless stretch with a goal by Nick DeVries. Senior center Devon Allred added a second Slug goal after a double exclusion at the five-minute mark, but UCSC never crept any closer than the eight-goal deficit. Freshman Allen Reed hit a five-meter penalty shot and Muenter's steal set up a long Salit counterattack with 1:10 remaining in the third.

Reserves Ryan Hagens and Brendan Sigourney had goals in the fourth as UC Davis finished out the win.

The Aggies fielded all three of its regular goalkeepers in addition to Lindsay's first-quarter action. Redshirt freshman Kevin Peat had four saves, including two on 6-on-5 opportunities, in the second period. Sophomore Erik Quinn stopped a 6-on-5 attempt in the third period, then freshman Dustin Leale finished the game with two fourth-quarter saves.

UC Davis concludes the regular season with a road game at Santa Clara on Saturday, then heads to the WWPA tournament the following weekend.

GOALS - UCSC: Nick DeVries 1, Devon Allred 1, Ben Markowitz 1. UC Davis: Adam Bennett 3, Philippe Chordas 2, Aaron Salit 2, Paul Wilson 1, Alex Dewar 1, Jim Breen 1, Carlos Martinez 1, Allen Reed 1, Ryan Hagens 1, Brendan Sigourney 1.

GOALIES - UCSC: Ian Horn 4 saves, 14 goals (32:00). UC Davis: Adam Lindsay 0 saves, 0 goals (8:00); Kevin Peat 4 saves, 0 goals (8:00), Erik Quinn 1 save, 2 goals (8:00), Dustin Leale 2 saves, 1 goal (8:00).

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