Brown University
UCLA
No. 14 Men's Water Polo Drops Decision to No. 1 UCLA, 17-2
9/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
PRINCETON, N.J. – No. 14 Brown University men's water polo dropped a 17-2 decision to No. 1 University of California, Los Angeles – the two-time defending NCAA Champions – on Saturday morning at Princeton University's DeNunzio Pool.
In their second and final day at the Princeton Invitational, the Bears (4-4) remained within three goals of the top-ranked Bruins (5-0) for the majority of the first half before the reigning national champions pulled away for the win.
Brown senior goalkeeper Luke Weiser (Los Alamitos, Calif.) made 11 saves while senior Luke Irwin (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and junior Tyler Kirchberg (Orinda, Calif.) each scored one goal for the Bears.
Irwin added two ejections drawn, senior Jake Wyatt (Corona Del Mar, Calif.) tallied an assist and two steals, and juniors Rico Burke (San Mateo, Calif.) and Tommy Bush (Lafayette, Calif.) each contributed two field blocks.
The Bears held the Bruins to just two goals during the run of play in the first quarter with UCLA scoring its final tally in the frame on a 5-meter penalty shot to take a 3-0 lead after one period.
The Brown defense held UCLA without a goal over the second quarter's first 5:30 before the Bruins netted three goals over the frame's final 2:30 to bring a 6-0 lead into halftime.
UCLA posted its first marker of the second half on a 5-meter penalty shot and gained its first double-digit edge at 10-0 with 6:04 to go in the third quarter. The Bruins moved ahead 12-0 after three stanzas.
Kirchberg netted the Bears' first goal as he converted a 5-meter penalty shot into the left side of the goal with 4:27 to play, making the score 14-1. Irwin notched Brown's second goal as he placed a shot into the left side of the net in transition after passes up the pool from Weiser and Wyatt with 1:20 left, turning the score to 17-2.
Next, Brown plays in four games at the Bucknell Invitational, squaring off with Navy (Sept. 17, 10:45 a.m.), Wagner (Sept. 17, 3:45 p.m.), No. 16 Bucknell (Sept. 18, 9:15 a.m.), and Mercyhurst (Sept. 18, 1:00 p.m.).
UCLA 17, Brown 2
Brown....................... 0…0…0…2…2
UCLA........................ 3…3…6…5…17
Brown Goals: Irwin, Kirchberg.
Brown Saves: Weiser 11.
