Nov. 5, 2009

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The No. 14 Santa Clara men's water polo team will travel to southern California this weekend for four games against conference opponents as it prepares for the Western Water Polo Association tournament beginning on Nov. 20.

The Broncos will start off with conference big-gun Loyola Marymount on Friday at 3 p.m., play UC San Diego Saturday at noon, and on Sunday will face Chapman at 10 a.m. and Whittier at 1 p.m., both in Orange, Calif.

Santa Clara is 17-8-0 overall and is working on one of its best seasons in program history. The Broncos are led offensively by senior Jack Wall, who is tied for 14th in the nation with 51 goals. Junior two-meter offense Nick Poggetti has also been productive this season, notching 38 goals this season. The offense is rated eighth in the nation, averaging 11.33 goals-per-game.

In the cage, sophomore goalie Michael Wishart, freshman goalie John Nash, and the Santa Clara defense is allowing 7.63 goals per game. Wishart is ninth in the nation with 191 saves.

Loyola Marymount it 14-6 overall, has yet to lose to a WWPA opponent (9-0), and is 11-6 against top-20 teams. Whittier (0-7) and Chapman (1-7) have struggled against top-20 opponents but are both .500 teams and have found success against conference opponents. UC San Diego is 11-13 overall, but 7-5 against WWPA teams and has picked up five wins over top-20 teams.

The Broncos return home the following weekend, taking on UC Davis on the road but finishing up at Sullivan Aquatic Center on Saturday with a match against the MPSF's California.