Tigers Take Two at Merced with Wins Over the Host Blue Devils and Visiting American River Thursday

MERCED -- After opening with a pair of scrimmages and an exhibition game last weekend, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's water polo squad played and won a pair of games for keeps at the Merced College Three-way Tournament Thursday (Sept. 8).

Riverside City (2-0 overall) opened with a 5-0 first-quarter lead and cruised to a 13-5 win over host Merced before opening a 9-0 lead by the time the first quarter ended in a 22-2 decision over the American River College (ARC) Beavers.

Against Merced, RCC led, 6-2, at the end of the first quarter, 12-1 at halftime and 11-4 after three quarters.

Sophomore driver Lazar Raca (Belgrade, SERBIA / Sports School '15) -- who is pictured -- led RCC with four goals and three steals. Sophomore center Jonah Saenz (Riverside / Poly HS '15) added three goals, two assists and three steals for RCC. Sophomore driver Jesse Mondragon (Riverside / Ramona HS '15) recorded five steals.

Freshman goalie Kristopher McVeigh (Riverside / Poly HS '16) started and went the distance. He had four saves.

Against ARC, freshman driver Dalton Gray (Corona / Santiago HS '16) had five goals and two steals. Raca added four goals, two assists and one steal. Freshman driver Julian Sandoval (Riverside / M.L. King HS '16) had four steals.

Again, McVeigh went the distance and logged six goals and one assist against ARC.

With the twin wins, the Tigers will head to Saratoga for the 52nd Annual Nyquist Tournament which will be hosted by West Valley College on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9-10, with some games at De Anza College in Cupertino. On Friday, Riverside will face the San Jaoquin Delta College (SJDC) Mustangs at 12:15 p.m. before meeting the Cabrillo College Seahawks at 2:45 p.m. in a pair of games at De Anza College.

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