Oct. 30, 2015 DAVIS, Calif. - Senior Sean Grab, freshman Ido Goldschmidt and redshirt freshman Marcus Anderson each performed hat tricks while the goaltending crew of Spencer Creed and Nico Chapman combined for 18 saves, leading UC Davis to a 21-7 win over Fresno Pacific in Western Water Polo Association men's action at Schaal Aquatics Center Friday night.
The Aggies, tied for 10th in the most recent national poll, improve to 15-7 overall and remain undefeated in conference at 4-0. The Sunbirds slip to 9-14 for the year and 1-3 in WWPA play.
The 21 total goals marks a season high and the most by an Aggie men's water polo team since a 21-13 victory against Cal Maritime back on November 9, 1996. Grab's three goals marks his eighth hat trick of the year. Goldschmidt recorded his third straight and his sixth for the season. Anderson matched his career high previously set vs. Chapman at the NorCal Invite in September.
Goldschmidt and sophomore Spencer Galli also had three assists while freshman Sasa Antunovic posted three steals. Senior Austin Beckwith, junior Jacob Ley and redshirt freshman Brock Gordon had two goals apiece. Sophomore Spencer Creed posted 11 saves in a little more than 20 minutes in front of the Aggie cage. He then gave way to Chapman, one of five seniors honored in pregame ceremonies, who notched a career-high seven in his longest stint since transferring from West Valley College.
UC Davis trailed briefly in the contest after David Seymour and Zlatko Vlasic gave FPU a 2-1 lead in the first six minutes of play. Grab assisted Goldschmidt on a 6-on-5 opportunity with 2:09 left in the first, then Goldschmidt assisted Beckwith at two meters on the next Aggie possession to craft a 3-2 lead. Sunbird junior Ryan Madel then equalized with his goal from set with a minute left in the period.
UC Davis proceeded to shut out its guest through the second and into the third quarter. Goldschmidt scored a goal and an assist to fellow freshman Antunovic to ignite a run of 10 unanswered. The Aggies led 10-3 at the halftime break and by 13-3 midway through the third before Kyle Eoff ended the FPU scoring drought with his power-play goal with 3:31 left in the third.
The Aggies extended their lead to 16-6 through three quarters, then put up five more in the fourth, including back-to-back from Anderson with three minutes to go. Chapman provided six saves in the final frame.
Five seniors â€" Grab, Beckwith, Chapman, attacker Evan MacCarthy, and center Wes Lincoln â€" were honored as part of the Senior Night festivities. UC Davis finishes its season on the road with conference games at UC San Diego (Nov. 5) and Loyola Marymount (Nov. 7) followed by the WWPA Championship at Air Force from Nov. 20-22.
| Fresno Pacific (9-14, 1-3) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | - | 7 |
| No. 10 UC Davis (15-7, 4-0) | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | - | 21 |
GOALS - FPU: Daniel Seymour 3, Zlatko Vlasic 1, Kyle Eoff 1, Erik Brown 1. UC Davis: Ido Goldschmidt 3, Sean Grab 3, Marcus Anderson 3, Austin Beckwith 2, Jacob Ley 2, Brock Gordon 2, Lyle Kipp 1, Sasa Antunovic 1, Evan MacCarthy 1, Riley Venne 1, Nick Coufal 1, Spencer Galli 1.
GOALIE SAVES - FPU: Kevin Richey 13 (32:00). UC Davis: Spencer Creed 11 (20:29), Nico Chapman 7 (11:31).
