LA JOLLA, Calif. — The Mercyhurst University men’s water polo team continued the 2026 campaign at the final day of the Triton Invitational hosted by the University of California-San Diego. Competing in Triton Pool and Canyonview Pool ,the Lakers lost to No. 15-ranked the University of California-Santa Barbara, 27-6, and Saint Mary’s College of California, 26-9, respectively.
Taking on UC-Santa Barbara, the Gauchos opened the first quarter with five consecutive goals to push ahead 5-0 through eight minutes of action.
UCSB continued to bring the momentum by scoring two straight goals to open up the quarter. Sophomore Declan Puacz broke the Gauchos’ scoring run with a strike for the Lakers. However, the Gauchos stowed away six goals to gain a 13-1 lead heading into halftime.
Sophomore Aidan Ivory opened up the third quarter with a goal for the Lakers before the Gauchos netted eight consecutive goals in the frame to pull away. Senior Asher Jones put an end to that scoring run and scored with just under 20 seconds left for Mercyhurst as the Lakers trailed by 18 going into the fourth quarter.
UC-Santa Barbara began the fourth quarter with four consecutive goals before Mercyhurst responded with back-to-back goals by junior Caden Stover and Puacz. The Gauchos countered with two more goals before Stover scored his second of the game in retaliation.
Facing first-year program Saint Mary’s, the Gaels opened up the game with three consecutive goals within the first two and a half minutes of the game. Puacz scored quickly after Saint Mary’s third goal to narrow the deficit to two for Mercyhurst. However, the Gaels proceeded to score consecutive goals to close out the quarter with a four marker lead.
Saint Mary’s began the second quarter wth a trio of tallies before senior Ben Gavran stroked in a score for the Lakers. The Gaels responded with three more goals, extending their lead to 10. Towards the end of the first half, both the Gaels and Lakers traded goals. During this span, freshman Porter Austin and Gavran scored for Lakers as Mercyhurst’s deficit stood at 13-4 prior to halftime.
In the third quarter, Saint Mary’s ticked off eight goals to put away the Lakers,. Puacz notched his second goal of the game, but the Gaels responded with seven seconds remaining to expand their lead to 17 scores.
Mercyhurst commenced the fourth quarter with three consecutive goals. The first two came from Gavran, totaling his number of goals on the day to four. Puacz scored the next goal, giving him three on the day. The Gaels responded with a goal of their own, but sophomore Auggie Paredes quickly responded to deliver for the Lakers. St. Mary’s scored the final three goals of the game to wrap-up at 26-9 victory.
Information courtesy Mercyhurst University Athletics Communications
