DAVIS, Calif. — The No. 14-ranked Harvard University men’s water polo team split its final two games at the University of California-Davis Aggie Roundup by defeating No. 12 the University of California-Irvine, 18-17, in overtime after dropping a 14-11 contest to No. 5 University of the Pacific.
James Rozolis-Hill recorded a hat trick, while Alex Tsotadze and Owen Hale both scored twice against Pacific. In the second game versus UC-Irvine, Alex Bucur tallied four goals and Rozolis-Hill posted the decisive goal on a penalty shot with just 17 seconds left in overtime.
Against Pacific, Noah Hodge made eight saves and Rozolis-Hill recorded his sixth hat-tricks in seven games this year.
Hale scored once and registered two assists, while Mot Stothart added a solo marker.
Michael Sonsini chipped in a goal and three assists with Tsotadze notching pairs of goals, assists and penalties drawn.
Colin Le scored his second goal of the season and Kaleb Archer tallied another two goals. Bucur set up two goals in the game to finish with a pair of assists.
Pacific led 3-2 after the first quarter before Sonsini stroked in a shot to tie the game at five-all midway through the second quarter.
Both teams scored three times in the second quarter, but Pacific outscored the Crimson, 4-2, in the third quarter to stretch their the Tigers’ lead to 10-7.
Stothart, Rozolis-Hill, Tsotadze, and Le scored in the fourth quarter, but Pacific managed to hang on for a three-goal win.
In the overtime thriller versus UC-Irvine, Rozolis- Hill scored five goals, including the game-winner. Bucur notched his first multi-goal game of the season with four scores and Archer accounted for a trio.
Gabe Putnam and Hale stuffed in pairs with Sonsini dishing out six assists.
Hodge stopped nine shots to earn the victory in cage.
Release courtesy Harvard University Athletics Communications
