SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific men's water polo team upset #12 St. Francis Brooklyn, 13-11, on Saturday at the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament, hosted by Santa Clara. The Sunbirds salvaged a split on the day, as FPU fell in the opener of the tourney to #15 Harvard, 19-6.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Game One: #15 Harvard 19, Fresno Pacific 6
Box Score
Records: FPU (4-12), HU (16-4)
Location:  Santa Clara, Calif. | Sullivan Aquatic Center
Series: FPU trails 4-0 to Harvard
 
Final Game Two: Fresno Pacific 13, #12 St. Francis Brooklyn 11
Box Score
Records: FPU (5-12), SFBK (11-8)
Location:  Santa Clara, Calif. | Sullivan Aquatic Center
Series: FPU leads 2-1 over St. Francis Brooklyn
 
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QUOTABLE:
• "We knew going into the tournament that this was going to be a tough weekend. We gave Harvard a good first half, but deflated quickly in the second. We reset mentally and came into St. Francis with a fresh mindset. After the first quarter the guys made the necessary adjustment we talked about and never looked back. The third quarter we really stepped into our system consistently and opened things up. From that point on, we just played hard and held on. Josh came in clutch for us in the cage and Richard, Kyle, Lazar and Uros really stepped up. Our bench really stepped up as well, not skipping a beat when they went in. I'm proud of the guys and we're now prepping for Brown tomorrow." – head coach Bryan Suhovy
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• In the afternoon game against St. Francis, the Sunbirds found themselves down 6-5 at halftime.
• The Sunbirds then erupted for six goals, which was highlighted by a 5-0 run, in the third period to take control of the game. FPU held off the Terriers in the final period to earn the win.
 • In the opener, the Sunbirds found the back of the cage three times in the first quarter before cooling off. FPU couldn't hold off the Crimson offense the rest of the way.   
 
STATS OF THE GAMES:
• Richard Szepesi led the Sunbirds with four goals in the win against St. Francis Brooklyn.
• Kyle Eoff added a hat trick for FPU, while Paul Siebenaler added two goals. Uros Pelemis, Lazar Raca, Garrett Pickford and Nick Stegall rounded out the scoring with one goal apiece.
• Joshua Ramage earned the win in the cage and totaled six saves for the 'Birds.
• The Sunbirds converted on 5-of-13 man-up opportunities.
• SFKB's Jonas Veazey scored a game-high five goals.
 
• Pelemis led the 'Birds with two goals in the setback to Harvard.
• Szepesi, Eoff, Erik Brown and Siebenaler each added one goal apiece for FPU.
• The Crimson received five goals from Jackson Enright.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• The Sunbirds have now faced 10 ranked opponents in 2017. The win gave FPU its third of the year against such opponents.
• Szepesi's four goals in the win against the Terries was a career best for the junior.
 
UP NEXT:
• FPU continues the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament on Sunday with two games. The opener is against #19 Brown at 9 a.m.