Nov. 19, 2006
POMONA, Calif. - The Santa Clara Broncos got goals from eight different players, but it wasn't enough to overtake UC Davis as the Aggies won the third place match at the WWPA Championships by a score of 11-8 Sunday. Following the match, three Broncos were recognized with conference awards.
It was the third meeting of the season between the two teams. Santa Clara hosted Davis on October 1st and after falling at home 13-6, the Broncos travelled to Davis for the Aggie Shootout on October 28th and came from behind to send the contest to overtime before the Aggies snuck two goals by the Broncos to earn the overtime win.
In Sunday's contest, the Broncos had eight different goal-scorers, including the team's leading scorer sophomore Jack Wall, and freshman Liam Farrell. Also finding the net for the Broncos was Luke Oda, who added an assist and three kickouts drawn. Mike Detoy, Charlie Moore, Daniel Soares, Tommy Kelly and Tommy Hendrickson rounded out the scoresheet. Robert Callahan had ten blocks in the loss.
In Sunday's championship game between No. 1 seeded UC San Diego and No. 2 seeded Loyola Marymount, UC San Diego outlasted LMU by a score of 10-9, the fourth time this season that UC San Diego has defeated LMU, each time by only one goal.
Following the championship game, the Western Water Polo Association handed out its annual awards. Earning All-WWPA first team honors was sophomore Jack Wall, who led the Broncos with 66 goals heading into the tournament. In just his second year, Wall was a mainstay on the scoring leaderboards both in the WWPA as well as nationally. Broncos captain Kevin Starry earned All-WWPA honorable mention honors, and freshman Liam Farrell earned Newcomer of the Year honors. In just his freshman year, Farrell was the Broncos second leading scorer, with 45 goals. Like Wall, Farrell's name was near the top of the conference goalscoring leaderboard throughout the season.
This season marks the first season under head coach Keith Wilbur that Santa Clara has had an athlete recognized with All-WWPA first team honors, and the second consecutive season that a Santa Clara athlete has earned Newcomer of the Year honors in the Western Water Polo Association.
WWPA Award Recipients
First Team
Jack Wall
Honorable Mention
Kevin Starry
Newcomer of the Year
Liam Farrell