Score: UC Davis 16, LMU 11
Location: Davis, Calif. (Schaal Aquatics Center)
Records: UC Davis 17-8 (7-0), LMU 16-8 (6-1)
DAVIS, Calif. — For the second straight season, UC Davis men's water polo has claimed a conference title, winning the West Coast Conference regular season championship on Sunday, Nov. 8. Following the game, the Aggies also honored their five graduating seniors,
Baxter Chelsom,
William McKeon,
Andrew Bonelli,
Thomas Kiesling, and
Timothy Kerr.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- On a penalty shot, Lucas Wulfhorst got the Aggies on the board a minute into the contest.
- Three minutes later, LMU found the back of the net, but Oriol Viñas struck back with his first of the day with only two minutes remaining in the first.
- Two more responses from LMU put them at three in the quarter, with Kiesling breaking up the scoring to leave the game tied 3-3 after one.
- The second period was all UC Davis. After Wulfhorst scored two minutes into the quarter, Thomas Marr, Lucas Ruano, and Oleg Shatskikh each got on the scoresheet, with Viñas putting in his second of the game as well.
- The defensive effort from Chelsom was on full display in this period, keeping LMU off the board to give his team an 8-3 lead at the half.
- Offense continued to produce in the third quarter, with Austin Quick scoring just 27 seconds in.
- The Lions looked to rebound with four goals in the period, but each was met with an Aggie response, as Wulfhorst, Marr, and Luka Palavra each scored. Wulfhorst also secured a hat trick in this period to put his team up 12-7 heading into the final eight minutes of action.
- Period number four was also high scoring for both teams, combining for eight total goals.
- Kiesling and Ruano started for the Aggies, each responding to goals from their opponent. With just two minutes left, Shatskikh added on his second before Cassius Wolf found nylon for his first of the day.
- LMU scored once more with just seconds remaining, but it was too late for the team, leading UC Davis to win 16-11, securing a championship for the second straight season.
UP NEXT: With the regular season now wrapped up, UC Davis will now turn their attention to the postseason. Following a scrimmage against the Alumni Water Polo Club next Saturday, the team will begin the WCC Championships hosted by Santa Clara against the No. 8 seeded Air Force on Friday, Nov. 20. Start times and streaming information will be available at a later date.
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:
UC Davis Athletics represents one of the nation's premier public universities on the NCAA Division I stage, with more than 650 student-athletes competing across 25 sports, including 16 programs in the Mountain West Conference. Located in California's quintessential college town, UC Davis combines championship-level athletics with the academic excellence of the nation's #8 public research university and is home to the nation's No. 1 programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine and sustainability. With a growing national media presence, bold investments in facilities and the student-athlete experience, and a tradition of developing champions in competition, in the classroom and beyond, the Aggies are elevating UC Davis on a national stage.
