Sept. 27, 2009
Despite three goals by All-American Jack Wall, the No. 10 Santa Clara water polo team fell 8-7 to No. 15 UC Davis in the final game of Bronco Invitational. Santa Clara moves to 10-3 and UC Davis moves to 9-4.
"We reacted to their 3-1 lead and we had to come back to tie it up a couple times," said Bronco head coach Keith Wilbur. "We needed to come out stronger."
Santa Clara's Wall's three goals led the Broncos. Also scoring a goal each for Santa Clara were Daley Meistrell, Mitchell Klipa, Jack Penner and Stephen Hobbs.
UC Davis struck first, taking a 1-0 lead at 5:41 in the first period. Santa Clara quickly tied it up at 1, but UC Davis finished the period ahead 3-1.
In the second period Santa Clara put two goals on the board, including the second of Wall's three at 4:11, but it was the buzzer-beater shot of Matt Richardson that put UC Davis up 4-3 at half-time.
Santa Clara's defense kept UC Davis scoreless in the third period after a goal at 7:29, with Santa Clara tying it up 5-5 with a goal by Jack Penner at the buzzer.
Santa Clara went up 7-5 with two quick goals (7:36 and 6:33) by Meistrell and Klipa in the fourth period, but couldn't hold to its own 3-0 run. UC Davis scored three goals unanswered, including one by Colin Hicks to take the lead for good at 3:06.
Santa Clara had a chance to tie it up, holding the ball with :08 on the clock, but were unable to score.
"We were trying to get Jack the ball and get the foul outside five meters to get the shot," said Wilbur. "Unfortunately we ran out of time. We have to start that play a little early - we didn't get it off on time"
