Chula Vista, Calif. – The Mt. SAC Men's Water Polo Team saw its season come to a heartbreaking close after a narrow 13–12 loss to San Diego Mesa in the 3C2A SoCal Regionals on Friday, November 14. Entering as the No. 5 seed against the No. 4 Olympians, the matchup was as tight as expected, with Mesa edging out the win by the slimmest of margins. The Mounties finish the year with a 15–12 overall record, while the Olympians (25–8) advance to face Golden West (32–2) on Saturday, November 15 at 8:30 a.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Mt. SAC stumbled out of the gate in the first period, managing just one goal from Nicolas Flores while Mesa found the back of the net six times, making the rest of the game an uphill battle.
The momentum shifted in the second period as Mt. SAC settled in and began to chip away at Mesa's lead. The Mounties added three goals—two from Aidan Gillooly and one from Benjamin Trull—while the defense held the Olympians to a single score, narrowing the deficit to 7–4 at halftime.
The third period brought fireworks, with both teams tallying four goals apiece. Trull struck first for Mt. SAC, but Mesa's Kyle Fox answered just 15 seconds later. Gillooly and Nazareth Longoria-Morasky scored back-to-back goals to pull the Mounties within one, before Mesa responded with goals from Santiago Gonzalez and Cooper Swayne to push the lead to 10–7. In the closing seconds, Gonzalez scored again for Mesa, and Longoria-Morasky countered for Mt. SAC, making it 11–8 heading into the final quarter.
With eight minutes to go and their season on the line, the Mounties fought relentlessly. Mesa's Sean Fegan added a goal, but Mt. SAC answered with scores from Gillooly, Jacob Carlson, and Flores. Gillooly netted his fifth and final goal with 45 seconds remaining, bringing Mt. SAC within one at 13–12. After calling a timeout to set up a final play, the Mounties unfortunately surrendered possession, allowing Mesa to counter and ultimately secure the victory.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
Mt. SAC's season featured several standout wins, including a tight victoriy over American River (13–12) and a commanding 17–6 win over Modesto—both of which continue to compete in the 3C2A Men's NorCal Regional Championship.
The Mounties also saw impressive individual performances throughout the year. Goalkeeper Michael Hale anchored the defense with 183 saves, while Nicolas Flores contributed 43 goals, 45 steals, and 13 blocks. Trevor Davis led the offensive charge with 76 goals, adding 41 assists, 33 steals, and 11 blocks. Jacob Carlson recorded a strong all-around season with 65 goals, 25 assists, and a remarkable 70 steals, and Paco Lopez added depth with 40 goals, 30 assists, and 40 steals. Together, these efforts helped shape a strong and competitive 2025 season.
NEXT UP:
That concludes our 2025 Men's Water Polo Season. Thank you for your incredible support—see you next year! Go Mounties!
STAY CONNECTED:
Follow Mt. SAC Men's Water Polo on twitter @mtsacaquatics or Instagram /mtsacaquatics/
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630