DAVIS, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton men's water polo dropped their third Big West meeting, 17-8, to No. 7 UC Davis on Friday night. The Titans stand 16-10 on the season and remain in search for their first conference win (0-3). 

Julian Nichols quickly tied the game at 1-1 in the first quarter with a backhanded twist shot. 
 

TIE GAME ??#TusksUp | @JulianNichols4 pic.twitter.com/kfCTYc1Vof

— Titans Men's & Women's Water Polo (@Fullerton_WP) October 21, 2023

After the Aggies jumped ahead 2-1, Francisco Paredes matched their pace, evening the score at 2-2 with the help of Togan Ozbek. 
 

Give a goal, Take a goal

Paredes evens the score on a pass from Ozbek!!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/aGD1Uk9nHc

— Titans Men's & Women's Water Polo (@Fullerton_WP) October 21, 2023

Zack Ewing added to the scoreboard to conclude the first quarter, sending the Titans into the second quarter trailing UC Davis 5-3. 

Nichols found the back of the net to jumpstart the second quarter in an effort to keep pace with the Aggies, who led 6-4. 
 

The long pass is IN ??

Nichols beats the traffic for his second goal of the game! #TusksUp | @JulianNichols4 pic.twitter.com/rM0FhngxS8

— Titans Men's & Women's Water Polo (@Fullerton_WP) October 21, 2023

 
 
Dominic Hernandez and Ewing added two goals before the break, but was not enough to catch up with the Aggies. At halftime, the Titans trailed 10-6. Fullerton continued their comeback pursuit with Ewing's third goal of the game after the break.

Hernandez deposited his second goal to finish off the third quarter down 13-8. The Titans struggled to beat the goalie in the final quarter, going scoreless in the final quarter. The Aggies found their way to the board four more times before the end of regulation, securing a 17-8 win over the Titans. 

Fullerton returns to the pool on short rest for their final doubleheader of the season in Santa Clara, Calif. The Titans face Santa Clara at 10:40 a.m. and Brown at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.