SAN JOSE, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's water polo team fell 20-10 to No. 9 San Jose State on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the loss, the Bobcats (0-5) ten goals marked their most against a Top 10 opponent in nine all-time matchups dating back to 2023.
Altug Misirli Jr. led the Bobcats efforts with a career-high and a 2026 team-high four goals. Andrew Jones notched his first hat trick of the season. Evan Ladeairous, Hayden Markell, and Patrick Jones deposited one shot into the back of the net.
San Jose State outscored the Bobcats 6-0 in the first quarter and added a seventh unanswered goal to start the second period before A. Jones put the Bobcats on the board at the 5:37 mark. San Jose State had an immediate answer and the goals kept coming as the Spartans built an 11-2 lead by halftime.
Misirli Jr. had a great start to the third quarter, scoring three goals in 127 seconds to notch his first career hat trick. His scoring surge cut the Bobcats deficit to 12-5, but the Spartans outscored the Bobcats 4-1 the rest of the quarter to go back up by double figures at 16-6.
The Spartans extended their lead to as many as 13 goals, up 19-6, with three straight goals to start the fourth. UC Merced kept battling and scored four of the day's final five goals in a stretch that saw A. Jones complete his hat trick.
Matthew Lloyd tallied a season-high 13 saves.
Up next, UC Merced will play at No. 20 Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, October 1 at 11:00am. The Bobcats will then play at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, Calif., at 4:00pm the same day.
