SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's water polo team fell 12-10 to Whittier in a neutral site match on Saturday afternoon. The Bobcats dropped to 0-4 with the loss.
Matthew King, Thomas Bauer, and Patrick Jones scored two goals each for the Bobcats. Seven different Bobcats deposited at least one shot into the back of the net in UC Merced's highest scoring game of the season.
Whittier opened the scoring 90 seconds in but the Bobcats held the Poets without a goal the rest of the quarter. James Soto immediately tied the game and then Bauer put the Bobcats in front 2-1 going into the second quarter.
The two teams traded goals to start the period with King and Altug Misirli Jr. providing the Bobcats scoring for a 4-3 advantage. Whittier tied the game at the 3:40 mark, but Bauer had an answer. However, the Poets scored two in the final 90 seconds of the first half to garner a 6-5 advantage at intermission.
UC Merced had a great defensive third quarter to jump back in front, outscoring Whittier 3-1 in the frame to go up 8-7. Patrick Jones, Andrew Jones, and King accounted for the Bobcats goals, with the program's all-time leading goal scorer A. Jones converting the go-ahead goal on a power play.
Whittier tied the game to start the fourth quarter but fell behind again on another P. Jones goal at the 5:46 mark. Whittier owned the game from there, putting up three unanswered goals to take an 11-9 lead. Hayden Markell broke a five-minute UC Merced scoring drought with 46 seconds left to make it 11-10 and keep his squad alive, but Whittier sealed the win with a final goal in the closing seconds.
Matthew Lloyd made eleven saves for the Bobcats.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will host Merced College at the Aquatics Center in an exhibition match on Friday, September 25 at 5:00pm.
