Nov. 4, 2000
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Santa Clara's men's water polo team closed out its regular season with a split against ranked opponents, falling to No. 12 Loyola Marymount 14-5 and then upsetting No. 16 Air Force 9-7 in dual-match action this afternoon at the Burns' Recreation Center in Los Angeles.
The Broncos end the regular season with an 11-17 record. LMU's win was the second over Santa Clara for the Lions in 2000, who defeated the Broncos 17-3 on Sept. 2 to open the season.
Senior Jeff Kopacek and junior Jay Moorhead led the Broncos with four goals each in the win over Air Force. Junior Dan O'Connell added the final score while senior goalkeeper Matt Petrich posted 12 blocks.
Against LMU, eight different Lions found the back of the cage en route to their victory. The Broncos were shut out in the first quarter as Loyola opened the game with five unanswered goals. Lion Kevin Witt scored twice during that run, and then added a third goal during another 5-0 streak in the second and third quarters. LMU's Andrew Jensen scored three times during a 3:16 span in the third frame.
Moorhead led the Broncos with two goals, while Kopacek, senior Jeff Raegen and freshman Kenny Flanagan added one goal each. Petrich posted seven blocks.
The Broncos find out if they are one of the teams selected to go to Honolulu, Hawaii, for the Western Water Polo Association Championships Nov. 17-19, where a berth in the 2000 NCAA Championships will be awarded. That decision will be made Nov. 7.
-- www.santaclarabroncos.com --
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Santa Clara 0 1 2 2 5
No. 12 Loyola Marymount 4 4 5 1 14
LMU scoring: Ke. Witt (3), Jensen (3), Szego, Eisberg, Ky. Witt, Barr, Roshke, Kindelberger
SCU scoring: Moorhead (2), Kopacek, Raegen, Flanagan
Saves: LMU-Robinson (7), SCU-Petrich (7)
Santa Clara def. No. 16 Air Force 9-7
