Sept. 28, 2002

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - The Santa Clara University men's water polo team dropped a 14-2 decision to 11th-ranked UC San Diego this morning to open up play at the Slugfest Invitational, hosted by UC Santa Cruz. With the defeat, the Broncos fall to 4-9 on the season.

Santa Clara sat out usual starters Logan Gee and Grant Allison, who were both feeling under the weather. Five other teammates were also hit with the flu bug, but were able to play, including sophomore Nick Takahashi, who scored both of SCU's goals.

Sophomore Peter Moore played a tremendous game in goal for Santa Clara, stopping numerous attempts by the opponents.

"I haven't seen a goalie play a game like that in a long time," said head coach Keith Wilbur, a former goalkeeper himself with the U.S. National Team. "He was stopping high-percentage shots. UCSD had some great opportunities and he was just stuffing them."

The Tritons opened the contest with a 5-0 lead after the first quarter. Santa Clara held them to one goal en route to a 6-1 halftime-deficit and played a strong third period as well, holding UC San Diego to only two goals. The Tritons busted out for six scores in the final period.

"We held up as well as we could, given the circumstances," Wilbur said regarding the flu virus that is hitting his team.

The Broncos will play two more contests this afternoon, against Pomona-Pitzer at 3 p.m. and Whittier at 6 p.m. The last time Santa Clara faced each of these teams, the contest went into overtime.