Oct. 11, 2009

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - Despite four goals from sophomore attacker Russell Hampton, No. 12 UC Davis was unable to overcome halftime deficits in setbacks to 17th-ranked Navy and 11th-ranked UC San Diego, placing 12th at the UC Irvine Invitational men's water polo tournament at Corona Del Mar High School Sunday. The Aggies lost, 10-7, to the Mids in their afternoon action; then fell by an 11-4 final to their conference rival Tritons in their evening match.

UC Davis falls to 10-9 for the season and 8-5 against Western Water Polo Association teams.

Hampton scored three goals while senior Jim Breen added two in the loss to Navy. The Aggies fell behind by a 5-1 deficit after sophomore lefty Kyle Wertz hit the second of his four goals with 31 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Breen netted a goal on the next possession to cut the margin to three goals heading into the halftime break, but the Mids scored three straight to extend their lead to six by the 4:44 mark in the third.

Breen and junior Cory Lyle each converted extra-man goals in the fourth quarter to bring UC Davis to within a two-goal deficit with three minutes remaining, but the Aggies were unable to supply any more offense to their comeback bid. Wertz converted a five-meter penalty shot with 1:42 left, icing the win for Navy.

In Sunday's nightcap, UC Davis managed a 2-1 lead on 6-on-5 goals by junior Carlos Martinez and freshman Jared Clapham. Meanwhile, sophomore Kevin Peat had five of his eight total saves in the opening frame. UCSD Ian Bausback then tied the game at 2-2 with less than a minute remaining in the first, igniting a run of six unanswered Triton goals into the third quarter.

The Aggies, who trailed by a 6-2 margin at halftime, never approached by closer than three goals for the remainder of the contest. They failed to score on three 6-on-5 opportunities in the final 10 minutes of play. In contrast, UC San Diego scored eight of its 11 goals on player-up chances.

The loss to the Tritons at the UCI Invite is the third of the year for the UC Davis. The Aggies lost by two during the previous weekend, and fell by a 10-7 score at the NorCal Invitational on September 20.

UC Davis takes a hiatus from outside competition, hosting an alumni game during Homecoming Weekend on October 16. The Aggies return to intercollegiate play with their home opener against Pepperdine on October 23.

UC IRVINE INVITATIONAL WATER POLO TOURNAMENT
Corona Del Mar High School • Newport Beach, Calif.

GOALS - NAVY: Kyle Wertz 4, Kevin Bell 2, Stevie Ray 2, Luke Baldwin 1, Conor Handley 1. UC Davis: Russell Hampton 3, Jim Breen 2, Matt Richardson 1, Cory Lyle 1.

GOALIE SAVES - NAVY: Brett Rajchel 5 (32:00). UC Davis: Kevin Peat 9 (32:00).

GOALS - UCSD: Steven Donohoe 3, Bryce Madsen 2, Ryan Allred 2, Ian Bausback 1, Sean Roberts 1, Kneif Lohse 1, Sean Cruz 1. UC Davis: Carlos Martinez 1, Jared Clapham 1, Cory Lyle 1, Russell Hampton 1.

GOALIE SAVES - UCSD: David Morton 6 (24:00), Daniel Ramirez 2 (8:00). UC Davis: Kevin Peat 8 (32:00).