SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Senior center Teddy Nicholson scored four goals while senior utility Chris Richardson added three more, leading No. 14 UC Davis to an 11-7 win over No. 17 Santa Clara in the final game of the Western Water Polo Association men's regular season Sunday afternoon at Sullivan Aquatic Center.

The Aggies improve to 15-16 overall and finish 4-2 in the WWPA standings. More importantly, the victory should secure the No. 2 seed and first-round bye in the upcoming conference tournament, although the official pairings will not be announced until later in the week.

Sophomore Max Vigeant chipped in two goals, junior Sean Grab and redshirt freshman Spencer Galli netted one each, and freshman goalkeeper Spencer Creed posted 11 saves to help the UC Davis cause.

For SCU, seniors Mark Davis and David Guibord totaled five goals while goalkeeper Matt Pritchett notched nine saves.

The two teams locked up in four total ties, including a 3-3 impasse through the first quarter. The Broncos took their first and only lead on the opening possession of the second quarter with a Guibord goal, but Richardson equalized on the next trip down to set the game at a 4-4 deadlock. Nicholson then hit goals at 5:16 and 1:47 in the second frame to give the Aggies the lead for good.

Galli's goal in the final minute of the third quarter and Richardson's power-play conversion to start the fourth each extended the UC Davis edge to three. The Aggies also managed to defend against a pair of Bronco 6-on-5 chances down the stretch while goals from Nicholson and Richardson helped keep the game out of reach.

The WWPA Championship takes place at Loyola Marymount from Friday through Sunday. Sixth-ranked UC San Diego will claim the top seed as the conference's only undefeated team.

GOALS - UC Davis: Teddy Nicholson 4, Chris Richardson 3, Max Vigeant 2, Sean Grab 1, Spencer Galli 1. SCU: Mark Davis 3, David Guibord 2, Kyle Nadel 1, John Rainier 1.

GOALIE SAVES - UC Davis: Spencer Creed 11. SCU: Matt Pritchett 9.