Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific men's water polo team wrapped up their second day of the Gary Troyer Tournament by splitting a pair of games Saturday afternoon. 
A third-quarter run in game one against McKendree helped the Sunbirds complete a comeback 17-12 win, before dropping game two to #7 Long Beach State.
 
GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

• McKendree took control of the game early with four unanswered goals. Thilo Popp put the Sunbirds' first goal on the board with 2:55 left in the first, but the Bearcats scored again with 2:04 left and took a 5-1 lead into the quarter break.
• Popp scored another to open the second and was followed by Pietro Cattano and Eugenio Maldonado, who scored consecutive goals to cut the deficit to 5-4.
• Both teams traded goals, and McKendree found themselves up 11-10 with just under five minutes remaining in the third. At that point, the Sunbirds ripped off five straight goals to turn the tides. 

STATS FROM THE MATCH

• FPU had 35 shots compared to McKendree's 29.
• The Birds finished with seven steals, while the Bearcats had three.
• Thilo Popp and Bodhi Bowden each finished with five goals apiece to lead the Blue & Orange attack. Popp and Bowden also contributed defensively, finishing with three and two steals respectively.
• Eugenio Maldonado fired in three goals, Pietro Cattano finished with two.
• Clay Maroney stymied the McKendree attack, finishing with eight saves.

GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nationally ranked Long Beach State jumped out in front of the Sunbirds early and never looked back.
• The Beach held FPU to their lowest goal total of the 2021 season, five. Long Beach State scored 36 themselves.

STATS FROM THE MATCH

• Popp and Bowden once again led the Sunbirds offensively, with each scoring two goals.
• Clay Maroney and Ethan McLaughlin split time in goal. Maroney finished with four saves, while McLaughlin had three.

UP NEXT

• FPU will return home next Wednesday to take on #14 Santa Clara at 6 p.m. at Sunnyside Highschool. Wednesday is also Faculty Appreciation Night.

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