DAVIS, Calif. — No. 14-ranked Harvard University men’s water polo came up short versus No. 2 University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), 16-15, in the Crimson’s first game of the Aggie Roundup at the University of California-Davis.
The back-and-forth game saw James Rozolis-Hill score five times, while Gabe Putnam and Owen Hale both scored twice. Alexandru Bucur notched his first of the season early in the first quarter.
Rozolis-Hill continued his dominant start as he recorded his fourth hat trick in five games as he now has 20 goals on the season.
Hale had two goals and an assist in the game, while Michael Sonsini recorded two assists and a goal. Mot Stothart added a goal and two assists with Alex Tsotdaze tacking on a goal, an assist and two penalties drawn.
Bucur added a goal and two assists wth Putnam contributing two goals.
Noah Hodge made nine saves in taking the loss.
Following a five-all tie by the conclusion of the first quarter, Harvard outscored UCLA 5-2 in the second quarter. At one point the Crimson scored five of six goals in the second quarter with goals from Stothart, Rozolis-Hill, Archer, Putnam, and Hale.
The game turned in the third quarter as UCLA outscored Harvard by a 6-2 total prior to both teams finding the back of the cage three times in the fourth quarter.
Overall, the lead exchanged hands 11 times during the game as the Crimson and Bruins battled back-and-forth from the opening sprint to the closing horn.
Information courtesy Harvard University Athletics Communications
