Men’s Water Polo Team Falls to Harvard on Opening Day of Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament

Men’s Water Polo Team Falls to Harvard on Opening Day of Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament

Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament Schedule/Results

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Dennis Blayshov had a game-high six goals, including the game-winner with one minute remaining, to lead Harvard in an 11-10 victory over Santa Clara men's water polo on Friday, the opening day of the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament.

Patrick Kirk scored a career-high four goals and Mac Carey added two for the Broncos who are in the midst of a five-game homestand, including four during the three-day tournament honoring a player who passed away in the spring.

Carey's 5-meter penalty shot with 36 seconds left in the game at a packed Sullivan Aquatic Center pulled the Broncos (5-9) within one, but the 15th-ranked Crimson (15-4) were able to run the clock down on its final possession. Carey had one final attempt with less than a second to go, but it was blocked sending Harvard to its seventh-straight win.

Santa Clara rallied from a 5-1 deficit early in the second quarter. Kirk scored twice to make it 5-3 and the Broncos eventually tied it 7-all.

"They just came out with too much emotion that first quarter and made some mental mistakes, trying to play too hard," said head coach Keith Wilbur. "After that first quarter we did a much better job in creating opportunities and executing them. I am really proud of how hard they worked, battled, and dug to get back into that game, making it a one goal game."

The Broncos couldn't build off Kirk's third-quarter goal, squandering a power play with less than two minutes to go in the period.

Blayshov's goal midway through the fourth increased the lead to 10-7, but Sam Toriggino and Carey scored within 40 seconds to make it a one-goal game.

Brown defeated Cal Baptist, 11-10, in the opening game of the day and LMU outlasted St. Francis, 12-9, in game

Santa Clara has two games on Saturday, facing Wagner at 9 a.m. and Brown at 3:40 p.m. There will be six games at Sullivan Aquatic Center and five more at West Valley College, with San Jose State serving as the host institution for those contests.

NOTES
• The team recognized former player Julian Fraser during pregame. Fraser passed away in the spring after a battle with cancer. The event was formerly named the Rodeo Tournament.
Reilley May had a game-high four kickouts drawn, while Shane Hughes and Carey tallied two each.
• Hughes and Toriggino had three steals apiece.
DeMarco Orella had game-high four assists, and Carey and Hughes had two each.
• The Broncos were 4-for-11 with the man advantage and held the Crimson to just 1 of 7.

NEXT UP
The Broncos face Wagner Saturday at 9 a.m. and Brown at 3:40 p.m. at Sullivan Aquatic Center. Santa Clara games will be streamed and live stats will be provided. Results and box scores for all remaining games will be posted on the tournament page.

Saturday, Oct. 21      
Santa Clara vs. Wagner 9 a.m. Live Stream FOSH
Santa Clara vs. Brown 3:40 p.m. Live Stream FOSH
       
Sunday, Oct. 22      
Bucknell vs. Santa Clara 10:20 a.m. Live Stream FOSH
       

 

About the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament: The Santa Clara water polo community lost one its own in the spring of 2017 with the passing of men's player Julian Fraser. The two-year member of the program touched many around him in his short life. In recognition, the water polo program has renamed the annual Rodeo Tournament as the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament, a three-day event which features teams from both sides of the country. Fraser was beloved by coaches, teammates and the Santa Clara University community. He had a true joy for the sport, he was a fierce competitor and enjoyed the camaraderie with his teammates. This annual tournament is a fitting way to honor and remember him.

Tickets: There are both single-game and all-day options for the tournament. Entry will require the purchase of a $10 all-day pass (exit and entry for the day) with the exception of Santa Clara contests. Patrons may purchase a single-game ticket priced at $6 for each of the four Broncos games. All-day passes purchased at Santa Clara do not include entry to the games at West Valley College. Single-game Santa Clara tickets or all-day passes are available online or at the gate. Sullivan Aquatic Center opens one hour prior to the first game each day. For questions, contact the Santa Clara ticket office weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (408) 554-4660 or BroncoTickets@scu.edu

Parking: For weekday games, the Leavey Center lot, located on Accolti Way off El Camino Real, is free beginning one hour prior to the start. Any other parking facility on campus will be subject to normal daily rates or restrictions, including the main structure, located on Palm Drive. During the weekend, campus parking facilities are free (except for permit required locations). Click here for a campus map and parking restrictions.

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