Oct. 15, 2010

DAVIS, Calif. - Senior Carlos Martinez scored two 6-on-5 goals and contributed heavily on two key fourth-quarter defensive stops, helping 11th-ranked UC Davis complete a 6-5 victory over No. 9 UC San Diego in a Western Water Polo Association matcup at Schaal Aquatics Center Friday afternoon.

The Aggies improve to 12-5 for the year and remain unbeaten in WWPA contests at 11-0. The Tritons dip to 9-8 for the season, suffering their second loss to UC Davis in as many meetings this year. Friday's contest should thus figure heavily in the seeding for the conference tournament in November.

Seniors Cory Lyle and Matt Richardson, junior Walter Eggert and sophomore Hank Dickey also scored goals for the Aggies. Junior goalie Kevin Peat tallied six saves in front of the UC Davis cage.

For UCSD, sophomore utility Brian Donohoe scored a goal in each of the first three quarters. Junior Graham Saber and senior Bryce Madsen also netted goals for the Tritons, while junior goalie David Morton earned five saves.

The Aggies drew first blood when Peat connected with Lyle on a long pass to complete a counterattack just three minutes into the contest. However, Donohoe equalized with an outside shot with just 0:21 left in the the first period. Saber's goal from two meters gave the Tritons an early edge in the second period, but Eggert's successful lob tied the contest at 2-2 just two minutes laster.

Martinez scored on a rebound and putback during an Aggie 6-on-5 chance with 3:07 left in the second period to boost his team to a one goal lead, but Donohoe again answered. The Triton ute found the net from up high as the 20-second exclusion clock expired at the 2:25 mark.

Dickey, a reserve center defender from nearby Davis High, scored just his fourth goal of the year to restore the UC Davis lead. He collected an entry pass from Richardson, then turned and fired into the Triton cage for the 4-3 halftime lead.

Both teams traded two goals in the third period to set the scoreboard at 6-5 through 24 minutes of play. Richardson boosted the Aggies to a two-goal edge on the opening possession after the break, then Madsen converted a 6-on-5 chance with 5:55 left to cut the deficit back to one. Donohoe tied the game at 5-all just two minutes later before the teams locked horns in a defensive battle. UC Davis earned the go-ahead in the waning seconds of the third on a crucial extra-man opportunity with seven seconds to go. Martinez connected with just one tick on the game clock.

Each team traded defensive stops in the fourth period as UC Davis' one-goal lead stood up. Donohoe managed three shots on a possession with two minutes remaining but was unable to put a ball into the cage. The Tritons had one last chance with 24 seconds left, calling a 30-second timeout to set up the offense. However, Martinez prevented UCSD from advancing beyond the seven-meter line for most of the final stretch. Peat collected a steal at two meters and ran out the clock, sealing the victory for the Aggies.

UCSD outshot UC Davis by a slim 22-21 margin, but the Aggies converted two of their three 6-on-5 chances. Meanwhile, the Tritons were successful on just one of three, with Peat making a save on an extra-man shot in the third period.

UC Davis returns to action in a non-conference game with No. 13 Pepperdine on Saturday at 6 p.m.

GOALS - UCSD: Brian Donohoe 3, Graham Saber 1, Bryce Madsen 1. UC Davis: Carlos Martinez 2, Cory Lyle 1, Walter Eggert 1, Hank Dickey 1, Matt Richardson 1.

GOALIE SAVES - UCSD: David Morton 5 (32:00). UC Davis: Kevin Peat 6 (32:00).

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