LOS ANGELES - The No. 14 Santa Clara men's water polo team fell to No. 3 California, 15-8, this morning in the Broncos' opening match of the 2010 SoCal Tournament, but recovered from the morning's loss to upset No. 12 St. Francis, 14-11, later in the day.
Santa Clara (8-7 overall) will now face WWPA rival No. 10 Loyola Marymount tomorrow at noon at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center for the right to play for ninth place.
Junior Marcus Akerland led the Broncos with two goals. Also scoring for SCU was seniors Mitch Klipa and Nick Poggetti, junior James Case, and freshmen Theo Nasser, Tucker Carlson, and David Guibord.
Junior goalie Michael Wishart blocked nine shots. Sophomore John Nash took over in the cage with 3:12 left in the game and saved two shots.
In the afternoon match against St. Francis, Santa Clara was continuously a few goals ahead of the Terriers at the end of each quarter. The Broncos strongest offensive efforts came in the final half, as they scored five goals in the third quarter and four in the fourth.
Poggetti and junior Brett Zylstra each scored three goals. Case and senior Stephen Hobbs scored twice. Junior Daley Meistrell, senior Josh Luebke, Carlson, and Klipa all added one goal. Wishart blocked nine shots.
Depending on the result of tomorrow's game against the Lions, Santa Clara will play No. 9 Pepperdine or No. 13 UC San Diego.
