San Luis Obispo, Calif. – The Mt. San Antonio College Men's Water Polo team continues to solidify its position as one of the top programs in California after a strong showing at the Cuesta College Tournament over the weekend. The No. 6-ranked Mounties went 2-1, highlighted by a thrilling win over No. 3 American River and a dominant performance against No. 7 Modesto. Mt. SAC now holds a 9-4 overall record, the best winning percentage (.692) in the South Coast Conference.
GAME 1: Mt. SAC 13 | American River 12
The Mounties opened the tournament with an impressive 13-12 victory over No. 3-ranked American River in a back-and-forth battle. Mt. SAC surged to a 5-1 lead in the first quarter behind a pair of early goals from Aidan Gillooly. Jacob Carlson added two more in the second quarter, helping Mt. SAC maintain an 8-4 halftime advantage.
American River mounted a comeback in the third, cutting the deficit to one behind standout efforts from Rowan Taggatz and Renzo Archer. However, Mt. SAC responded with clutch fourth-quarter goals from Paco Lopez and Nazareth Longoria-Morasky. Goalkeeper Michael Hale tallied nine saves to secure the upset win as the Beavers fell to 8-6 for the season.
GAME 2: Mt. SAC 10 | Golden West 17
In their toughest matchup of the weekend, the Mounties fell to top-ranked Golden West, 17-10. Despite the loss, Mt. SAC showed fight and efficiency against the state's No. 1 team. Aidan Gillooly led the way with four goals, while Jacob Carlson and Trevor Davis chipped in three and two, respectively.
The Mounties took 22 total shots, converting at a solid .455 rate. However, Golden West proved too much offensively, netting 17 goals on 29 attempts for a .586 shooting percentage. Michael Hale made nine saves for Mt. SAC, but the Rustlers pulled away with a 6-2 second-quarter run. With the win, Golden West improved to 13-1 on the season and remains atop the Orange Empire Conference.
GAME 3: Mt. SAC 17 | Modesto 6
In what should have been a competitive and evenly matched game, the No. 6-ranked Mt. SAC Mounties delivered a commanding 17-6 victory over No. 7 Modesto, showcasing their strength on both ends of the pool. Nicolas Flores erupted for five goals, and Trevor Davis added four, as the Mounties built an early lead and controlled the game throughout.
Contributions came from across the roster, with Aidan Gillooly, Paco Lopez, and others finding the back of the net. Defensively, Michael Hale and Noah Musman combined for 16 saves, holding the Pirates to just two goals in their best quarter. Mt. SAC outscored Modesto in all four periods, delivering a statement win over another top-10 team. Modesto now stands at 11-5 but continues to do well in the Big 8 Conference.
NEXT UP:
The Mounties return to South Coast Conference play on Wednesday, October 8, when they travel to face Chaffey College (5-9) at 3:00 PM.
STAY CONNECTED:
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.