2017 WWPA Championship Central
LA JOLLA, Calif. – In its season finale, the Santa Clara men's water polo team came up just short in its bid for a second-straight upset in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championship.
Stephen Hosch, one of the three players to score twice for fourth-seeded Concordia (12-11), tallied the game-winner midway through the fourth quarter in Sunday's 9-8 victory over the No. 7 seed Broncos in the fifth-place game of the three-day, eight-team tournament that was held at UC San Diego.
Ryan Werner scored a game-high three goals and Reilley May and Mac Carey tallied two apiece for Santa Clara (8-17), which tied the matchup twice in the second half, but was unable forge ahead.
Hosch scored on the power play midway through the third period, but Carey and Dane Estrella scored one minute apart to tie the game at 6-all.
May's breakaway goal with 5:22 left in the game, knotted it at 8-all, but Hosch answered on the ensuing possession with the go-ahead marker.
Santa Clara, which was 1-for-6 on exclusions in the game, had one final opportunity with the man advantage, but could not convert.
Concordia's Alfredo De La Mora posted 14 saves in the game, including five in the fourth quarter.
The Broncos, who defeated sixth-seeded LMU on Saturday in consolation bracket play, had two possessions in the final minute. Estrella had an attempt blocked before it reached De La Mora, and Carey's final shot from about 10 meters out with three seconds left sailed wide right.
Angel Rojas and Patrick Zsiros had two goals each for the Eagles who went 4 of 5 on the power play in a game tied five times.
NOTES
• Goalie Emil Huebner was credited with five saves and three steals.
• Ryan Werner tallied three or more goals for the third time this season.
• Mac Carey had two goals, two assists and drew three kickouts.
• Seniors DeMarco Orella and John Raineri suited up for the final time as Broncos.
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