SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The No. 15 Bronco men's water polo team hosted their annual Rodeo Tournament over the weekend. Hosting top ranked teams, the Broncos played five tough games, going 2-3.
The Broncos and the Bison battled much of the first quarter. Off of an earned ejection from Evan Chang, the Broncos converted their man-up opportunity with a goal by Chang. The Broncos showed off their tough defense, stopping two man-up opportunities for the Bison. Matt Pritchett came up with a big steal as well as critical blocks. The first quarter ended 1-0 Broncos advantage.
The Bison opened up the second quarter with a goal to tie the game one all. Off of an earned ejection, the Bison found the back of the net to take the lead, 2-1. The Bison put in one more goal before Mark Davis answered back with a breakaway goal, 3-2 Bison. The Bison went on another two-goal run to increase their lead 5-2. Matt Kochalko found the back of the net to bring the Broncos within two, going into half 5-3.
Out of the half, the Bison earned and converted a penalty shot to make it 6-3. The Bison put in one more goal to make it 7-3. Kyle Nadel showed off his speed down the pool, putting away a breakaway goal to make it 7-4. Matt Godar followed suit, putting in another goal for the Broncos bringing them back within two, 7-5. The Bison went on another two-goal run before Graham McClone put in one for the Broncos, 9-6 Bison.
Godar opened up the fourth with his second goal of the game. The Broncos and the Bison battled up and down the pool with neither team converting their opportunities. In the final 30 seconds, Will Grant earned and ejection that was converted by John Raineri to bring the Broncos within one.
In their second game of the weekend, the Broncos faced rival Brown. Davis got the ball rolling for the Broncos, scoring the first goal of the game. Off of an earned ejection, Raineri converted giving the Broncos a 2-0 lead. From the two meter, Grant put in one more goal for the Broncos, giving them the 3-0 lead to end the first quarter.
Off of an earned ejection, the Bears opened up the second quarter with their first goal, 3-1. The Broncos earned an ejection that was converted by Davis. Godar fired one past the Brown defense giving the Broncos the 5-1 lead. The Bears went on a two-goal run before Raineri scored for the Broncos making it 6-3 going into half.
Pritchett earned an ejection, giving the Broncos an offensive man-up play. Davis again found the back of the net for his third goal of the game. The Bears scored one of their own, but Raineri answered back with one of his own, 8-4 Broncos. Assisted with a pass by Richard Daly, Grant swept one in from two meter giving the Broncos the 9-4 lead. Chase Schaaf and Raineri each scored one more for the Broncos and with one more from the Bears, the third ended 11-5.
The Bears started the fourth with a goal, 11-6. The teams battled much of the remaining fourth quarter before Daly saw his first goal of the weekend. The Bears put in one more goal, but the Broncos finished with the 12-7 win.
In their third game of the weekend, the Broncos and the Sunbirds matched up. The Sunbirds started off with a two-goal run before Nadel put one in for the Broncos. Godar followed suit to tie the game two all. With goals by Schaaf and Daly, the Broncos ended the first quarter with the 4-2 lead.
Off of an earned ejection, Godar converted the man-up opportunity increasing the lead to 5-2. The Sunbirds put in one more goal, making it 5-3 going into half.
McClone started the Broncos off with a goal in the beginning of the third. After missed man-up opportunities by both the Broncos and the Sunbirds, Raineri found the back of the net. The Sunbirds put in one more to end the third quarter 7-4.
The Sunbirds started off the fourth with a goal, bringing them within two. Chang answered back with a goal, sweeping one in from two meter. Demarco Orella scored his first goal of the weekend, giving the Broncos the 9-5 lead. The Sunbirds put in two more but the game ended, giving the Broncos the 9-7 win.
In an early morning game, the Broncos rematched against the Air Force Falcons. The Falcons scored the first goal of the game but Raineri answered with a goal for the Broncos. The Falcons ended the first period with the 2-1 lead.
After one more by the Falcons to start the second quarter, Davis put one in for the Broncos, 3-2 Falcons. Nadel fired one into the goal to tie the game three all. With neither team being able to convert their opportunities, the game went into half tied 3-3.
The Falcons again started off the third quarter with a goal to regain the lead, 4-3. Nadel scored his second goal of the game to retie it 4-4. Orella fired a quick catch-and-shoot, giving the Broncos their first lead of the game, 5-4. The Falcons were able to get one by the Bronco defense to tie it again five all.
Davis started the Broncos off with a goal to open up the final quarter of play, but it wasn't enough. The Falcons went on a two-goal run to finish out the game 7-6.
In their fifth and final game of the weekend, the Broncos faced Bay Area rival UC Davis. The Aggies started off strong, going on a three-goal unanswered run in the first quarter.
Off of an earned ejection, Davis converted the Broncos man-up opportunity for the Broncos first goal of the game, 3-1. Chang found the back of the net, making it 3-2, Aggies still in the lead. Pritchett and the Bronco defense stayed strong, keeping the Aggies scoreless in the second quarter.
McClone came out of the half time huddle on fire, throwing one into the back of the net and tying the game 3-3. The Broncos held on to their tough defense, keeping the Aggies scoreless once again.
Raineri threw up a lob shot right over the goalies head to regain the lead for the Broncos, 4-3. Davis scored one more for the Broncos, but the Aggies kept the game tied 5-5, sending it into overtime.
With six seconds left in the first overtime period, Nadel found himself on a one-on-one and scored one for the Broncos, 6-5. The Aggies caught a lucky bounce, shooting from half tank to tie it 6-6 going into the second overtime period. The Aggies edged out the Broncos with a goal in the second overtime quarter to win 7-6.
