Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Cal State Fullerton men's water polo hung tough with No. 13 UC Santa Barbara but ultimately fell, 14-12, Friday evening on day one of the Big West/WCC Challenge.

Togan Ozbek led all scorers with five goals on six shots, while Ethan Cooney added a pair of scores of his own. Bende Aubeli, Alec Isaacman, Julian Nichols, Zack Ewing and Nico D'Angelo each added a goal for the Titans. 

The Gauchos got off to a quick start, scoring the match's first four goals before Ozbek found the back of the net near the end of the first period. UCSB maintained a sizable lead throughout the first half, with Ozbek scoring again in the second as the Gauchos led 9-4 at the break. 

The Titans came roaring back near the end of the third period and beginning of the fourth, as Ozbek scored another pair and Ewing added one to bring Fullerton within three, 11-8. D'Angelo and Ozbek scored again midway through the fourth to then bring the Titans within a point, 11-10. 

But UCSB scored the next two to go back up three, 13-10. Aubeli scored with 3:27 to go on a powerplay before the Gauchos added another, going up 14-11. Cooney scored with 1:03 remaining but it wasn't enough, as UCSB went on to take the 14-12 win. 

The Titans are back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 21, to take on California Baptist at 12:00 p.m. PT and Pepperdine at 4:00 p.m. PT and close out the Big West/WCC Challenge. 

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