PASADENA, CA — Three Leopards finished with hat tricks and the University of La Verne men's water polo team took the early lead and never relinquished it, beating the Caltech Beavers 16-7 Wednesday evening.
Alam Barnuevo, Charles Ortega, and Myles Storms each scored three times for the Leopards. Ortega also dished out a pair of assists. Barnuevo and Storms each added two steals and an assist.
It was an Ortega to Storms connection that gave the Leopards an early 2-0 lead. Goals by Barnuevo and Vasil Halchev put La Verne up 4-1 just over five and a half minutes into the game.
Caltech responded and cut the deficit to 5-3 at the end of the first half. But the Leopards shut out the Beavers in the second quarter to take a 8-3 lead into the break. La Verne doubled up the Beavers in the second half 8-4 to run away with the game.
Senior Rex Sample had a big all-around game totaling three steals, two goals, and one assist. Halchev ended with three assists, two goals, and two steals.
Guillermo Ocasio added to the big team win, finishing with three assists, two steals, and one goal. Dario Mariani netted a pair of goals.
Ryan Lehotsky picked up the win in the cage, grabbing nine saves and two steals. Brian Wilder jumped in for the final period and finished with six saves.
Joey Sabers, Charles Lewandowski, and Jason Soo Hoo each added one assist.
The Beavers were led by Matthew Hajjar's two goals and Austin Harvard's three assists.
Season Impact
The Leopards pick up their third straight win and improve to 7-12 overall and 2-4 in conference actions. Caltech falls to 6-10 overall and 1-6 in the SCIAC.
Next Game
The Leopards get back to action this Saturday when they host Cal Lutheran at 11 a.m. as part of homecoming weekend. The Leopards will host their alumni game following the SCIAC matchup.
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