Tigers Lose Orange Empire Conference Opener, 15-12, at Golden West Wednesday

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Lifting the lid on the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) schedule, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's water polo team lost, 15-12, to the host  Golden West College (GWC) Rustlers Wednesday (Sept. 23). 

After trailing, 5-2, at the end of the first quarter, the Tigers played even with the defending OEC champions the rest of the way.

Riverside (7-4, 0-1 OEC) was paced by freshman utility player Kyle Christian (Riverside / M.L. King HS '15), who had three goals and three assists, and freshman center Jonah Saenz (Riverside / Poly HS '15) added three goals. RCC freshman goalkeeper Dustin Shaw (Riverside / Poly HS '15) had six saves.

"Saenz constantly put pressure on the opposing defense while drawing six exclusion fouls," said RCC third-year head water polo coach Jason Northcott.

RCC head coach Jason Northcott (CS San Bernardino '09) is in his third year at the Tigers' helm. Northcott has an overall won-lost record of 17-26 for the two previous seasons. Riverside was 8-18 overall in 2014 and, thus at 7-4 currently, it is only one win shy of matching last season's victory total.

Riverside will next play the host Saddleback College Gauchos in OEC play next Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 4 p.m. in Mission Viejo..

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