DAVIS, Calif. – Santa Clara men's water polo extended its winning streak to three games before falling to a top-10 team on the final day of the Aggie Roundup at UC Davis.
The Broncos (4-4) held off Whittier College, 11-9, then were edged by No. 8-ranked Cal, 12-9, on Sunday at Schaal Aquatic Center.
Santa Clara won three of its four contests at the tournament. The Broncos defeated Ottawa University – Arizona and Austin College on Saturday.
Santa Clara 11, Whittier College 9
Shane Hughes scored four times, Arvin Bahia had three goals and Mac Carey tallied four assists to help power the Broncos to an 11-9 win over Whittier College.
Patrick Kirk and Ryan Werner each tallied a pair of assists for Santa Clara, which pulled away from the Poets (3-7) with four straight goals in the fourth quarter.
Werner snapped a 7-all on a goal just 1:11 into the final period. Hughes and Bahia followed with markers in the next two minutes.
Sean Tehaney went the distance in net for the Broncos, registering 15 saves.
Bahia also drew three kickouts. Santa Clara was 3-for-11 with the man advantage.
No. 8 Cal 12, Santa Clara 9
Nikolaos Papanikolaou posted three goals for California, which held off Santa Clara for an 12-9 win in the finale of the Aggie Roundup.
Patrick Kirk had three goals for the Broncos who led four times against the Bears (7-3).
Kirk's second goal, which came with less than 1 minute left in the second quarter, gave Santa Clara a 6-5 halftime lead. His final strike pulled the Broncos within 10-9 with 4:55 left in the game, but the Bears scored twice in the final 3 minutes.
Shane Hughes had one goal and four assists, and Mac Carey two goals and two assists for the Broncos.
Chase Zamborelli had nine saves for Santa Clara.
Jack Deely and Jordan Hoover each scored twice for Cal, which was 2-for-3 with the extra attacker. The Broncos went 3 of 5.
UP NEXT
The Broncos will play four games in the Gary Troyer Tournament. They face Cal Lutheran and Wagner on Friday, and host La Verne and Occidental on Sunday