2016 WWPA Championship Central | WWPA Day One Recap | WWPA Day Two Recap | WWPA Day Three Recap
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Top-seeded UC Davis defeated No. 2 seed San Diego, 12-8, in Sunday's title game of the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championship. The three-day, seven-team tournament was played in Sullivan Aquatic Center.
Riley Venne scored a team-high three goals for the Aggies (24-5), who earned an automatic bid to the NCAAs. Arman Momdshyan scored a game-high four goals for the Tritons (15-8).
Loyola Marymount (13-16), the third seed, held off fourth-seeded Cal Baptist (22-11) by a score of 11-9 in Sunday's third-place game.
In the opening contest of the day, No. 6 Air Force (11-16) defeated fifth-seeded Santa Clara, 10-9, in the fifth-place game behind a game-high four goals, including the penalty shot winner with 16 seconds left, by Riley Thomas.
Mac Carey led the offensive attack with three goals and three assists for the Broncos, who are playing host to the three-day, seven-team tournament.
Santa Clara (11-16) rallied to tie the game at 9-all in the last five minutes with goals from Sam Toriggino and Carey, but Thomas was able to convert a penalty shot when the Broncos attempted to call timeout without possession.
The Broncos trailed 7-4 in the third quarter before rallying behind a pair of seniors. Matt Godar scored on the power play with 3:53 remaining and Garrat Johnson added an even strength strike just more than one minute later.
Carey tied the game at 7-all on a feed from DeMarco Orella just 24 seconds into the fourth quarter.
But the Falcons went ahead on Eric Curia's goal with 6:00 left in the game then the senior set up Thomas one minute later for a two-goal lead.
Johnson and Graham McClone had two goals apiece and goalkeeper Keaton Fox posted 12 saves for Santa Clara.
Goalie Max Benson posted 14 saves for Air Force, which scored on all four penalty shots in the game.
2016 WESTERN WATER POLO ASSOCIATION MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 18-20 • Santa Clara University • Sullivan Aquatic Center
FRIDAY, NOV. 18
• Game 1: No. 2 UC San Diego 17, No. 7 Fresno Pacific 10 - Box Score
• Game 2: No. 3 Loyola Marymount 9, No. 6 Air Force 8 - Box Score
• Game 3: No. 4 Cal Baptist 10, No. 5 Santa Clara 8 - Box Score
SATURDAY, NOV. 19
• Game 4: No. 6 Air Force 13, No. 7 Fresno Pacific 9 - Box Score
• Game 5 (Semifinal): No. 1 UC Davis 5, No. 4 Cal Baptist 4 - Box Score
• Game 6 (Semifinal): No. 2 UC San Diego 8, No. 3 Loyola Marymount 7 - Box Score
SUNDAY, NOV. 20
• Game 7 (Fifth Place): No. 6 Air Force 10, No. 5 Santa Clara 9 - Box Score
• Game 8 (Third Place): No. 3 Loyola Marymount 11, No. 4 Cal Baptist 9 - Box Score
• Game 9 (Final): No. 1 UC Davis 12, No. 2 UC San Diego 8 - Box Score
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