SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Skyler Munatones scored three times and Jack Turner backed the defense with 13 saves for UC San Diego, which pulled away with five goals in the third period of a 13-8 win over Santa Clara men's water polo on Thursday.
Alessandro Valania had both of his goals in the third quarter and Calder Hilde-Jones scored once in the period as the 10th-ranked Tritons (16-4, 4-1) built an 8-4 lead in the matchup of Western Water Polo Association teams.
Mac Carey and Shane Hughes each had two goals for the 14th-ranked Broncos (10-11, 2-4) who dropped their second straight after winning five in a row.
Reilley May had two steals and drew four of Santa Clara's seven kickouts. His only goal pulled the Broncos within 11-7 less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, but Turner followed with saves on the next two possessions and Collin Sullivan's strike made it a five-goal cushion.
The Broncos, who opened a three-game homestand to end the regular season, scored just twice with the man advantage while the Tritons went 4-for-8.
There were five penalty shots in the game, including four in the opening quarter. Santa Clara was 2-for-3 and UC San Diego 1 of 2.
The Broncos battled back from a 5-2 deficit with Hughes and Patrick Kirk each scoring on the power play in the final 2:12 of second quarter, but they couldn't carry the momentum into the second half.
NOTES
• Sam Toriggino, Patrick Kirk, Reilley May, Dane Estrella, Shane Hughes and Mac Carey have started all 21 games. Sean Tehaney made his 12th-straight start in net.
NEXT UP
The Broncos are back in action Saturday against Loyola Marymount and face Pepperdine on Sunday, which will serve as Senior Day. Both of those games begin at noon in Sullivan Aquatic Center.
TICKETS
Single-game tickets are available for $6. Click here to purchase online or contact the ticket office weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (408) 554-4660 or BroncoTickets@scu.edu. Sullivan Aquatic Center, as well as its ticket office, is open one hour prior to the start of the game.
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 of the game. 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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