FULLERTON, Calif. — Zach Fales led the day with nine goals and Luke Baird netted six as the No. 17 Santa Clara University men's water polo team swept its first day at the Lancer Joust, beating host Cal State Fullerton, 12-9, and former Wester Water Polo Association foe Concordia University Irvine, 15-13, at the Titan Aquatics Center.
 
No. 17 SANTA CLARA 12, CAL STATE FULLERTON 9
 
Baird and Fales both led all other players with four goals each to power the No. 17 Broncos (8-4) past the Titans (11-10) in Friday's opener. The duo combined for all four of Santa Clara's goals in the fourth quarter, helping them pull away for the win, the team's second consecutive over the Titans after winning by the exact same score (12-9) last season in Santa Clara.
 
Baird scored the Broncos' final two goals of the game to give them a four-goal advantage at 12-8 before Cal State Fullerton got one final goal in the last minute. His four goals in the game were a season high.
 
Henry Engs, Jack Fisher, Gojko Kapovic and Harrison Villella contributed one goal each for the Broncos. Cal State Fullerton was led by Dominic Hernandez who scored three goals, with Julian Nichols and Jacob Hatch adding two goals apiece.
 
The scoring was evenly matched in the first half, with both teams tying at 3-3 after the first period and again at 6-6 at halftime. Santa Clara pulled ahead in the second half, outscoring Cal State Fullerton 6-3. Santa Clara's Harrison Labrosse recorded 11 saves, while Garrett Henderson registered 10 saves for the Titans.
 
No. 17 SANTA CLARA 15, CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY IRVINE 13
 
Fales outdid himself in the Broncos' nightcap, scoring a match-high five goals to carry the Broncos to a non-conference, neutral-site win over the Golden Eagles (7-15).
 
The Broncos established an early lead with four goals in the first period, including two from Fales and one each from Riccardo De Simon and Ben Kyrillos. De Simon would finish with three goals in the game. CUI responded with three goals of their own, keeping the game close. Santa Clara kept the edge, scoring three more goals in the second period to head into halftime with a 7-5 advantage.
 
The third period saw Santa Clara grow its lead, scoring six goals while only allowing one from the Golden Eagles. That large lead for SCU was essential, as CUI came storming back in the fourth quarter with seven goals, but it ultimately wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Baird again scored Santa Clara's final two goals of the game, giving it its final, 15-13, edge.
 
CUI's Oscar Garcia Blomback scored three goals, while Griffin Beth made three saves and allowed 10 goals in net. Harrison Labrosse won his second game of the day with 12 saves in goal for SCU.
 
COMING UP
Santa Clara wraps up the Lancer Joust at 12:10 p.m. Saturday over at host California Baptist's pool in Riverside, Calif., with a game against another former WWPA opponent, Biola University. Fans can find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.