LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's water polo team fell 11-10 to both Occidental and Augustana in hard-fought matches on Friday at the Gary Troyer Tournament.

The Bobcats (3-8) were led offensively by Andrew Jones and Vincent Labonte on the day. Both Bobcats scored five goals across the two matches and have upped their hat trick count to four on the season.

Game One | Occidental 11, UC Merced 10

UC Merced fell behind 3-1 early on but the Bobcats shutout Oxy the rest of the first quarter and Bobcat goals from Hayden Markell and Christian Soto tied the game 3-3 heading into the second. However, the Bobcats were unable to score in the second quarter and found themselves trailing 6-3 at intermission.

The Bobcats responded out of the break with three unanswered goals, including two by Labonte. Jones tied the game 6-6 on a power play at the 5:06 mark of the third quarter. Patrick Jones scored shortly after, but Oxy's offense picked up as the quarter progressed and the home team led 9-7 heading into the final period.

Evan Ladeairous cut the Bobcats deficit to one with a goal on the first possession of the fourth quarter. However, Oxy scored the next two goals and the Bobcats were down 11-8 with 4:52 remaining. A. Jones quickly got one of those goals back. Labonte notched a hat trick with 1:15 left to get the Bobcats within one again, 11-10. Though, the Bobcats were unable to tie the game and fell 11-10.

UC Merced goalkeeper Matthew Lloyd finished with nine saves and three steals.

Game Two | Augustana 11, UC Merced 10

UC Merced and Augustana traded goals throughout the first quarter with Weston Oliver scoring the final goal of the frame to give the Bobcats a 4-3 lead. Ladeairous was big for the  Bobcats in the quarter with two goals.

Offense was limited to just three combined goals in the second quarter. Augustana scored within the first two minutes to tie the game, while the Bobcats didn't score until the 1:24 mark to regain the lead. Oliver was the Bobcat who dented the twine. Augustana scored on their final possession as the match was tied 5-5 at halftime.

The battle continued in the third quarter with the teams alternating goals, resulting in a 7-7 tie with two minutes left in the period. A. Jones then put the Bobcats ahead 8-7 in the final 45 seconds to tally a hat trick.

Labonte found the back of the net 90 seconds into the fourth quarter to give the Bobcats the first two-goal lead of the game. After an Augustana score, Oliver responded right back and the Bobcats led 10-8 with 5:29 left. Oliver's goal was the final goal for the Bobcats and Augustana did just enough to earn the comeback victory. Augustana tied the game inside of 90 seconds and then netted a buzzer-beater for the game-winner with an extra attacker.

Lloyd made 12 saves and added two steals.

Up next, UC Merced will play Wheaton College (10:15am) and La Verne (2:00pm) at the Gary Troyer Tournament on Saturday, October 4 in Los Angeles.