DAVIS, Calif. - Zach Fales helped Santa Clara men's water polo reach overtime in the team's final game of the season at the Western Water Polo Association Championship and Blake D'Souza sealed the victory in the extra session.
D'Souza's goal with 1:36 remaining in sudden death overtime gave the sixth-seeded Broncos a 17-16 win over Air Force in one of Saturday's consolation games.
A 5-meter penalty goal by Sam Fuller of Air Force snapped a 13-all tie with 1:55 left in regulation.
After goalie Sean Tehaney made a save, Santa Clara called a timeout to set up one final play and Fales delivered a goal as time was expiring.
The teams scored two goals apiece in each of the first 3-minute overtimes.
Patrick Guinn drew a kickout on Air Force with 2 minutes left in the third overtime. The Broncos were unable to convert on the power play but kept possession and after some ball movement around the exterior of the defense, Ford Eldredge found D'Souza who bounced the attempt off the water and past goalie A.J. Kuypers.
Cody Ferguson had four goals and Fales and Eldredge had three each for the Broncos who led only for 3 minutes (all in the first quarter) until overtime.
Fuller, Grant Snyder and Ian Christie each had three goals for the fifth-seeded Falcons who had 21 chances with the extra attacker but scored on only four. Santa Clara was 2-for-10 on the power play.
Air Force built a 7-3 lead midway through the second quarter, but the Broncos were able to even the score at 11-all on a goal by Fales as the third period was coming to a close.
Chase Raisin had two goals and Jake Taylor one goal and three assists for Santa Clara.
NOTES
- Ford Eldredge, Jake Taylor, Blake D'Souza, Chase Raisin, Dominick Kirk and Cody Ferguson started along with Sean Tehaney in goal. Tehaney was credited with 12 saves.
- Zach Fales was named to the WWPA All-Tournament second team.
Congrats to Zach Fales who was named @theWWPA All-Tournament second team. Posted a career-high six goals against California Baptist and the tying score at the end of regulation in the win over Air Force. One of only two freshmen to make all-tournament.#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/u6ZfDbpvdY
— Santa Clara Water Polo (@SCUPolo) November 22, 2021
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