Offense erupts in second half of Cal Pac Round Robin finale

VALLEJO, Calif. – The inaugural men's water polo event in California Pacific Conference history took place on Sunday when the Keelhaulers hosted the Cal Pac Round Robin — a three-team single-day tournament that also featured UC Merced and Westcliff.

In the final match of the event, Cal Maritime's offense erupted for eight goals combined in the second half, a total that included a pair recorded by Kevin Kraatz, Ryan Oldewurtel and Marcos Ortega.

Responsible for nine of the 10 goals scored before halftime, Westcliff built a lead that lasted until the final horn to split their Round Robin schedule with its 17-9 result over the Keelhaulers.

The Round Robin started with two local teams squaring off in the inaugural men's water polo competition in conference history, a match that saw UC Merced jump out to a 10-3 lead at the break in a score that fell in its favor, 18-6.

The Warriors and Bobcats faced one another between Cal Maritime's matches, a battle that saw UC Merced snap a 10-10 tie early in the fourth quarter by recording six of the last seven goals en route to a 16-11 victory versus Westcliff.

Off next weekend, CSUM will return to the pool during Keelhauler Days weekend when it hosts the Collegiate Water Polo Association Tournament #1, a two-day tournament that begins with Cal Maritime facing Cal State Monterey Bay at 8:20 a.m. on October 7.

Men's water polo's schedule concludes at 12:40 p.m. that afternoon against UC Santa Cruz and continues the following day with games vs. Cal (12:40 p.m.) and San José State (3:55 p.m.).


Westcliff 17, Cal Maritime 9

Cal Maritime Scoring
Kevin Kraatz, Ryan Oldewurtel, Marcos Ortega 2, Nicholas Anderson, Ian Healy, Armando Valenzuela 1

Westcliff Scoring
Manvel Augusto 6, Giorgi Khizanishvili 4, Andrei Maodus 3, Brock Kammerer 2, Yusuf El Desoky, Vicenzo Inguanta 1

UC Merced 18, Cal Maritime 6

Cal Maritime Scoring
Kevin Kraatz, Ethan Osorio 2, Marcos Ortega, Matthew Turecek 1

UC Merced Scoring
Killian Nguyen 5, William Pezold 4, Tommy Baver, Andrew Ore, Camden Peterson 2, Andrew Jones, Evan Ledeairous, James Soto 1