Oct. 1, 2011

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Sophomore attacker Bernie Rogers netted a goal with 20 seconds remaining to crack an 8-8 tie and lead No. 9 UC Davis to a 9-8 win over Pomona-Pitzer during the first day of action at the SoCal Invitational men's water polo tournament at Long Beach State's Campus Pool Saturday. The Aggies previously lost to UC Irvine by an identical score to open tourney action.

UC Davis moves to 15-4 for the season and improves to 10-0 in Western Water Polo Association games. The Anteaters are ranked seventh nationally, while the Sagehens share a three-way tie for 20th in the coaches' poll.

Hank Dickey and Ryan Hagens each scored two goals in the victory over Pomona-Pitzer. Dickey scored both of his during the first half, helping the Aggies run out to a 5-2 lead. Sagehen Mark Hudnall converted a 6-on-5 chance with a minute remaining in the half to cut the deficit to 5-3 at the break, but redshirt freshman Trevor Allen immediately restored the edge to three with a goal early in the third period.

Pomona junior center Jason Cox scored two of his three goals as part of a 4-0 run, putting UC Davis behind by a tally at the six-minute mark in the fourth. Aggie senior Aaron Salit, held scoreless throughout the morning match with Irvine and through three quarters in the current contest, finally broke through with an extra-man goal to equalize at 7-7.

Cox and Hagens also exchanged 6-on-5 goals to put the score at 8-8 with 1:47 left in the game. UC Davis successfully held off two Pomona-Pitzer exclusion opporutnities, then Rogers connected with 20 seconds left to prevent extra frames.

Senior goalkeeper Kevin Peat posted 13 saves in defense of the Aggie cage.

In Saturday's early game, Rogers and senior Walter Eggert each scored two goals in the 9-8 loss to UC Irvine. The Anteaters scored three unanswered to start before junior Colin Hicks put UC Davis on the board with 6:15 left in the second. The Aggies trailed 4-3 at the half and slipped behind by two early in the third before Eggert and Rogers scored back-to-back goals to tie matters at 5-5.

However, UCI never allowed UC Davis to take the lead, breaking the tie with two straight goals. The Anteaters led for the remainder of the game, keeping a one- or two-goal cushion for the final 10 minutes of play. Sophomore Nick Pfeil scored three goals to lead UCI in the win.

UC Davis will face the winner of the Long Beach State-Princeton game at 10:40 a.m. on Sunday.

2011 SOCAL INVITATIONAL WATER POLO TOURNAMENT, DAY ONE
Long Beach State Campus Pool • October 1
UC Davis games only.

GOALS - UC Davis: Walter Eggert 2, Bernie Rogers 2, Colin Hicks 1, Luke Collins 1, Trevor Allen 1, Chris Richardson 1. UC Irvine: Nick Pfeil 3, Jacob Mourer 2, Trent Baxter 1, Brian Pickford 1, Winston Newland 1, Mitch Wise 1.

GOALIE SAVES - UC Davis: Kevin Peat 7 (32:00). UC Irvine: Jimmy Friedrich 6 (32:00).

GOALS - PP: Jason Cox 3, Mark Hudnall 2, Cody Moore 2, Jarrod Gaut 1. UC Davis: Hank Dickey 2, Ryan Hagens 2, Luke Collins 1, Stuart Dooley 1, Aaron Salit 1, Bernie Rogers 1.

GOALIE SAVES - PP: Kyle Pkomy 5 (32:00). UC Davis: Kevin Peat 13 (32:00).