SANTA CLARA, Calif. - For the second time in three days, Santa Clara men's water polo came ever so close to knocking off a top-20 opponent. This time it was the 13th-ranked Harvard Crimson who was on the ropes against the 17th-ranked Broncos, who held a three-goal advantage after three periods, but ultimately was unable to stave off the Crimson's fourth quarter comeback bid. Harvard scored five goals in the final frame to edge the Broncos 11-10 in a highly entertaining affair on the second day of action at the Julian Fraser Memorial held at the Sullivan Aquatic Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Harvard (16-4) held a slim 6-5 advantage at the half after a great back-and-forth affair in the opening 16 minutes. Riccardo De Simon accounted for 80 percent of Santa Clara's scoring with four goals to his credit. It was the second hat trick of the weekend for the Italian freshman. 
• The Broncos (10-7) dominated the third period, outscoring the Crimson 4-0 to take a three-goal advantage into the start of the fourth quarter at 9-6. Reese Jenican, Gojko Kapovic, Henry Engs and Ben Kyrillos all found the back of the net during the period with Kyrillos scoring the final goal of the frame just outside of 30 seconds remaining on a 5-meter attempt. 
• Harvard punched back in the fourth with four unanswered goals of their own in the first four minutes to regain the lead at 10-9. Zach Fales answered for Santa Clara on a powerplay with 3:27 to go to knot it back up at 10, but it was the Crimson that would have the final say as Jack Burghardt broke the tie with what would prove to be the game-winning score with 1:41 to go. 
• The Broncos locked down defensively and had three more cracks at the tying goal, but each shot was knocked away, including a last-second attempt from the corner off the hand of Jack Fisher that was knocked out of play with one second to play. SCU was unable to get off another shot following the inbounds pass. 

NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• De Simon's four goals led all scorers for the game. Henry Engs was the only other Bronco with multiple goals to his credit, finishing with two to go with a pair of steals. De Simon also led the team with three steals and added an assist for a team-best five points. 
• Harrison Labrosse played all 32 minutes in the goal, finishing with six saves. 

NEXT UP:
The Broncos will play their fourth and final game of their home stretch tomorrow as the conclude the Julian Fraser Memorial with yet another top-20 match up against No. 19 Brown.