MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's water polo team fell 18-4 to No. 18 Santa Clara in the season opener on Friday afternoon at the UC Merced Aquatics Center.
Altug Misirli Jr., Andrew Jones, James Soto, and Weston Oliver each scored a goal for the Bobcats.
Misirli Jr. scored the Bobcats first goal of 2026 at the 3:17 mark of the first quarter, but Santa Clara led 5-1 going into the second.
Jones converted a 5m penalty shot in the second quarter that tied the program's all-time scoring record with 119 career goals. That was the Bobcats only second quarter as UC Merced trailed 9-2 at halftime.
Santa Clara outscored the Bobcats 6-0 in the third period for an early knockout punch, going up 15-2.
The teams traded fourth quarter goals with Soto and Oliver scoring for the Bobcats.
Santa Clara built a 9-2 advantage before halftime with Jones responsible for the Bobcats second quarter goal via a 5m penalty shot
Charlie Engs led 12 Santa Clara goal scorers with a hat trick.
Matthew Lloyd recorded six saves for the Bobcats.
UC Merced fell to Cuesta College 13-10 in an exhibition game later in the day.
Up next, UC Merced will host Ventura College in an exhibition match on Thursday, September 3 at 5:00pm at the Aquatics Center.
