RODEO TOURNAMENT SCOREBOARD/RESULTS

WATCH | EYEBRONCO's Post-Match Interviews with Grant, McClone

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Will Grant and Graham McClone each had four goals allowing No. 16 Santa Clara to pull away from 13th-ranked Bucknell and win 12-8 Sunday at the Sullivan Aquatic Center. Grant scored in every period, while McClone (picured) scored twice during a decisive run in the fourth.

No. 16 Santa Clara (9-15) closed out its own Rodeo Tournament winning four of five - three coming against top-20 teams. 

"We've stressed, now going into conference, to get everything going the right way," said Grant. "Offense, defense, our six on fives, our conditioning and I think it just finally clicked. We have put together a real balanced attack that can allow us to beat higher-ranked teams."

No. 13 Bucknell (12-8) was coming off a drubbing of Cal Baptist Saturday. The Bison were matching SCU goal-for-goal throughout the first three periods, but McClone's two late scores and two more from lefty John Raineri put the game out of reach. 

Entering this week, the Broncos had played 18 of their 19 games on the road. 

"It is great to play at home, it's exciting playing in front of friends and family and getting the crowd going," said McClone. "It was really important to come out with energy and then close the game out in the fourth, and that's what we did."  

The Broncos will enter the heart of its Western Water Polo Association schedule during the next two weeks. Up next is a trip to Southern California this upcoming weekend for pivotal conference games with No. 14 UC San Diego and No. 18 Loyola Marymount.

The WWPA Championship Tournament will be held in Colorado Springs the weekend of November 20-22. 

No. 16 Santa Clara 12, No. 13 Bucknell 8

SCU Goals: Graham McClone (4), Will Grant (4), John Raineri (2),  Garrat Johnson (1), Reilley May (1)
SCU Saves: Troy Nadel (8)