Sept. 25, 2011

DAVIS, Calif. - Senior center Aaron Salit scored a total of nine goals in two games while Matt Vowell, Matt Manchenton and Bernie Rogers all posted their first career hat tricks, helping No. 9 UC Davis claim three wins on the third and final day of the Aggie Shootout men's water polo tournament at Schaal Aquatics Center Sunday. The Aggies scored a 19-4 win over Occidental, added an 18-9 win over La Verne, then finished the day with a 15-3 victory over Fresno Pacific.

UC Davis improves to 14-3 overall and remains unbeaten with a 9-0 record against its leaguemates in the Western Water Polo Association.

Salit scored four goals in the win over Occidental, sat out the La Verne contest, then punched in five more in the finale with FPU. Vowell netted three goals against Oxy, Manchenton matched that total in the middle game against the Leopards, then Rogers provided three against the Sunbirds. Another key highlight was junior Russell Hampton, who scored a career-best five goals over La Verne.

Besides the output of Salit and Vowell, Walter Eggert, Kevin Meisel, Hank Dickey, Chris Richardson and Luke Collins all had two-goal games in the morning win over the Tigers. UC Davis spotted Occidental the first goal of the game, then responded with seven unanswered to take the lead for good. The Aggies led 8-2 at the half, then scored nine straight after the break to run away with the win. Senior Kevin Peat talied nine saves, including three against Tiger 6-on-5 chances, before giving way to Don Gilbert's debut in the fourth quarter.

In contrast to the Oxy game, La Verne gave relative chase in the early afternoon contest. The Leopards closed to within three goals in three separate occasions in the second quarter, including a 8-5 deficit with 2:09 left in the first. Hampton completed his hat trick to put UC Davis head 9-5 at halftime, then the Aggies put up five in the third to gain some separation on the scoreboard. Meisel and Colin Hicks each had two goals in support of Hampton's and Manchenton's career-high scoring totals. Peat again played just three quarters, tallying nine saves before allowing Tony Dito to make his collegiate debut in the cage.

Salit had all five of his goals before halftime against FPU, boosting the Aggies to a 10-1 lead at the break. Rogers posted his hat trick in the third, while the defense held the Sunbirds scoreless in the frame. Richardson also had a multi-goal game, scoring in the first and second periods.

In all, UC Davis went 6-0 and scored 86 goals at its own tournament, facing programs from NCAA Division III or NAIA schools. The Aggies will return to action at the SoCal Invitational at Long Beach State on October 1-2, first competing in a group of USC, UC Irvine and Pomona-Pitzer.

AGGIE SHOOTOUT WATER POLO TOURNAMENT, DAY THREE
Schaal Aquatics Center • UC Davis games only.

GOALS - OXY: Richard Dybas 1, Samuel Akiyama 1, Brendan Whitmore 1, Justin Lim 1. UC Davis: Aaron Salit 4, Matt Vowell 3, Walter Eggert 2, Kevin Meisel 2, Hank Dickey 2, Chris Richardson 2 Luke Collins 2, Russell Hampton 1, Colin Hicks 1.

GOALIE SAVES - OXY: Scott Churchman 9 (32:00). UC Davis: Kevin Peat 9 (24:00), Don Gilbert 1 (8:00).

GOALS - LV: Arturo Villapando 2, Kyle Thorsness 2, Jon Jarvis 1, Emerson Gant 1, Cooper Durette 1, Julian Casillas 1, Andrew Mackay 1. UC Davis: Russell Hampton 5, Matt Manchenton 3, Kevin Meisel 2, Colin Hicks 2, Hank Dickey 1, Jared Clapham 1, Walter Eggert 1, Greg Nelsen 1, Bernie Rogers 1, Luke Collins 1.

GOALIE SAVES - LV: Dan Newell 12 (32:00). UC Davis: Kevin Peat 9 (24:00), Tony Dito 2 (8:00).

GOALS - FPU: Andreas Sahlberg 1, Nick Fadden 1, Glenn Lyon 1. UC Davis: Aaron Salit 5, Bernie Rogers 3, Chris Richardson 2, Anders MacCarthy 1, Walter Eggert 1, Jared Clapham 1, Luke Collins 1, Matt Machenton 1.

GOALIE SAVES - FPU: Jake Finney 2 (32:00). UC Davis: Kevin Peat 5 (32:00).