Nov. 1, 2009

DAVIS, CALIF. -

Led by two goals apiece from senior captain Spencer Warden, sophomore standout Ivan Rackov and redshirt freshman Spencer White, the No. 2-ranked Cal men's water polo team (16-4) won at No. 16-ranked UC Davis (12-13) in a non-conference match Sunday, Nov. 1 at Schaal Aquatics Center in Davis. The Golden Bears had earlier this season upended the Aggies, coached by former Cal water polo player Steve Doten (1986-88), 12-4 Sept. 10 in Berkeley.

After stopping two early UC Davis extra-man opportunities, Cal crafted a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. Warden put the Bears on the board at the 4:29 mark, sophomore Jack Stampfl, a Davis product, won a battle at two meters at 3:30, then junior Iosefa Tuiasau tapped in Cory Nasoff's short skip shot in the intitial onslaught. Ryan Hagens broke the Bears' scoring streak with his 6-on-5 goal early in the second, but Cal again managed three unanswered to hold a 6-1 edge at the halftime break. Rackov had both of his goals in the second frame, first firing in a long outside shot with 3:29 remaining, then planting a short lob in the final minute before the intermission.

The Aggies put up most of their offense in the fourth period. Colin Hicks drew a five-meter exclusion and made his own penalty shot with four minutes to go, bringing the score to 10-2 in Cal's favor. Shortly after, Carlos Martinez delivered an assist to Anders MacCarthy on a counterattack, then scored a goal of his own in an extra-man spot with 25 ticks left.

The Bears next travel to southern California for a pair of noon MPSF matches. Cal faces UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Nov. 7, before taking on Long Beach State, coached by former Bear All-American and Olympian Gavin Arroyo, on Sunday, Nov. 8.

No. 2 California (16-4)        3-3-2-3 -- 11
No. 16 UC Davis (12-13)        0-1-0-3 -- 4

GOALS - Cal: Spencer Warden 2, Ivan Rackov 2, Spencer White 2,
Jack Stampfl 1, Iosefa Tuiasau 1, Mike Sample 1, Marin Balarin 1,
Adam Cline 1.

UC Davis: Ryan Hagens 1, Colin Hicks 1, Anders MacCarthy 1,
Carlos Martinez 1.

GOALIE SAVES - Cal: Justin Parsons 8 (32:00).

UC Davis: Kevin Peat 10 (32:00).