Men’s Water Polo Posts Thrilling Win on Opening Day of Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament

Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament Schedule/Results

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's water polo posted a season-high scoring total, but late defensive stops helped close out a victory on the opening day of the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament.

Shane Hughes, Jack Rottman and Reilley May recorded three goals apiece, and Sam Toriggino and Mac Carey each came up with a key defensive play in the final 70 seconds to lead the Broncos to a 15-13 win against Harvard on Friday.

Charlie Owens scored a game-high five goals, including four in the second half, for the Crimson (15-6) which scored on 6 of 10 chances with the man advantage to help them overcome two four-goal second-half deficits and then twice pull within one in the fourth quarter.

Owens' final goal pulled Harvard within 14-13 with 1:43 left in the game, but Santa Clara's Sean Tehaney posted one of his 10 blocks on the next possession.

After a turnover by the Broncos (6-9), Harvard was turned away on its next two possessions with Toriggino coming up with a steal and Carey blocking a shot.

Carey's block turned into a transition insurance goal by Patrick Kirk with 17 seconds left.

VIDEO | The team gutted out a 15-13 win over @HarvardH2OPolo during opening day action in the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament. Mac Carey breaks down the final sequence. #SCUBroncos #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/lpmN80VHsY

— Santa Clara Water Polo (@SCUPolo) October 20, 2018

Carey had two goals and three assists, and Hughes had two assists.

Nikhil Suri was credited with 10 saves for Harvard.

The other two games on Friday at Sullivan Aquatics Center were separated by one goal. California Baptist defeated Brown, 11-10, and LMU scored with 1 second left to edge Saint Francis (N.Y.), 12-11, in the 11-team, three-day event that concludes Sunday.

NOTES
• Sam Toriggino, Patrick Kirk, Reilley May, Dane Estrella, Shane Hughes and Mac Carey have started all 15 games. Sean Tehaney made his sixth-straight start in net.

NEXT UP
Santa Clara will play in three of the 17 remaining games in the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament. The Broncos face Wagner (10:20 a.m.) and St. Francis (5 p.m.) on Saturday, and Bucknell on Sunday at noon. There will be six games at Sullivan Aquatic Center on Saturday and four more at West Valley College, with San Jose State serving as the host school. The tournament concludes with seven games Sunday, all at Santa Clara. 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.

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 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.

Connect with the Broncos on Social Media
• Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Men's Water Polo: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram