STOCKTON, Calif. – A big fourth quarter helped the fourth-ranked Pacific men's water polo program pull away from ninth-ranked Long Beach State for a 14-9 win Sunday in the home opener at the Eberhardt Aquatics Center.
 
The Tigers (11-0) are off to their best start since 2016.
 
Pacific led for most of the way and carried a 10-8 edge over LBSU (13-8) heading into the fourth quarter. The Tigers remained in front 11-9 when they scored the final three goals of the game on tallies by graduate Stefan Vavic, graduate Zsombor Gyemant and senior Mihailo Vukazic.
 
Vukazic led the offense with four goals on six shots and an assist. He's up to 38 goals on the season as he averages over a hat trick per match.
 
Three Tigers scored a pair of goals including graduate Oliver Fodor, senior Reuel D'Souza and graduate Matthew Hosmer. Senior Gil Gvishi also found the back of the net and freshman Yoav Rendler dished out a pair of assists.
 
Senior Bae Fountain played the whole way as goalkeeper and made nine saves.
 
Pacific has now won four straight meetings against The Beach.
 
It was the home opener for the Tigers after playing their first 15 matches on the road. They'll play two more home matches next when they host No. 11 Princeton on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. and No. 16 LMU on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m.



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