MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's water polo team fell 18-7 to George Washington University on Friday night in the 2024 home opener. The match marked the second time in program history UC Merced has hosted a NCAA Division I opponent.

The Bobcats (0-7) were within a goal at the end of the first quarter and trailed by four at halftime before GW pulled away.

Vincent Labonte, William Pezold, and Andrew Jones scored two goals each for UC Merced. Pezold's multi-goal game was his first of the season. Camden Peterson also deposited a shot into the back of the net.

Pezold scored the Bobcats first goal three minutes into the match as a response to two early GW goals. Each team scored once more before the end of the first quarter, including Peterson on the Bobcats final possession to make it a 3-2 game heading to the second.

GW then scored the next four goals of the match to go up 7-2, but Labonte halted the Revolutionaries momentum briefly with two goals of his own. GW led 8-4 at halftime.

The Bobcats were outscored 6-2 in the third quarter and fell behind 14-6. Pezold and Jones provided the offense with a goal each in the middle part of the frame, while six different Revolutionaries scored to give the visitors an eight-goal lead.

GW scored immediately in the fourth quarter and extended their lead to a game-high 12 goals at 18-6 inside of three minutes. The Bobcats were held scoreless until the final possession when Jones tacked on a goal for his multi-goal outing. Jones also had an assist and a steal on the day.

Matthew Lloyd played all 32 minutes in the cage for UC Merced and was credited with 12 saves and two steals.

GW goalkeeper Luca Castorina stopped two penalty shots and made five saves overall.

Up next, UC Merced will host Cal Maritime and Merced College for scrimmages on Sunday, September 22. The matches are scheduled for 10:00am and 2:00pm at the UC Merced Aquatic Center.