Bobcats surge past Tigers for win

The Saddleback men's water polo team defeated Riverside City College, 12-10, on Wednesday at the Saddleback Aquatics Center.  The Bobcats are now 6-1 overall for the season.

Saddleback and Riverside were locked in a close battle for most of the day.  Neither team led by more than three goals at any point during the game. 

Riverside took an early lead when they scored two quick goals for a 2-0 lead in the opening two minutes of the game.  Saddleback fought back methodically, finally taking a lead with 1:24 left in the opening quarter when Donald Robertson netted his third goal of the opening frame for a 5-4 lead. 

Robertson had a big game, leading the Bobcats with six goals for the day.  He equaled Saddleback's biggest lead of the game in the third quarter when he scored his sixth of the game for an 11-8 lead with 2:47 remaining.  Matteo DiMiceli again equaled the three-goal advantage with five seconds remaining in the quarter when he scored for a 12-9 advantage.

The two teams settled in defensively in the fourth quarter, with the lone goal coming from RCC with 3:44 remaining in the game.

Ryan Ortiz started in goal for the Bobcats and played for through the opening half before giving way to Callen Viter in the second half.

Saddleback is now 6-1 overall and 2-0 in Orange Empire Conference play.  The Bobcats have the rest of the week off before hosting the Saddleback Invitational next Friday and Saturday.