SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Nir Gross posted a game-high four goals and Marcus Anderson and Ido Goldschmidt scored three apiece to lead UC Davis to a 19-12 win over Santa Clara men's water polo on Saturday.
Sam Toriggino tallied a career-high tying three goals for the Broncos (3-5, 1-0) in their Western Water Polo Association opener.
Riley Venne posted one goal and four assists for the eighth-ranked Aggies (8-3, 2-0) who connected on 4 of 6 with the man advantage and never trailed.
UC Davis, the two-time defending WWPA champion, started to pull away in the third quarter. Late goals by Anderson and Jack Stafford increased the lead to 15-10. Goldschmidt added a power play goal in the first minute of the fourth period.
Goldschmidt scored twice in the opening quarter when the Aggies jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
Mac Carey, who had two goals and as assist, scored one minute into the second quarter to pull the Broncos within 5-4.
After Toriggino scored on the power play, the Aggies posted three goals in a 3-minute span capped by Venne's marker 19 seconds into the third, which increased the lead to 11-6.
The Broncos scored on 5 of 12 attempts with the man advantage. Both of Ryan Werner's goals occurred with the extra attacker, but the Aggies needed only 32 attempts to match their season-best goal total.
Jonah Addington picked up the win in net for the Aggies, posting two saves in one half of action.
Matthew Churchman suffered the loss for the Broncos, posting four blocks in the first half. Sean Tehaney took over in the cage for the final two periods and recorded six saves.
NOTES
• Sam Toriggino, Patrick Kirk, Reilley May, Dane Estrella, Shane Hughes. Mac Carey and Matthew Churchman started the game for an injured Keaton Fox. Churchman made his first career start, while the other six have started all eight contests.
• May drew four kickouts, his fourth game of the season with at least three. He has a team-best 21.
NEXT UP
The Broncos continue WWPA play on Saturday when they travel to face Air Force.
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