Men’s Water Polo Places Third at OEC Championships, Qualifies for SoCal Regionals

It all came down to one final game for the Riverside City College men's water polo team as they faced off against the Saddleback College Gauchos in the third place game of the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) Championships on Saturday afternoon. It was a blow for blow affair throughout the first half, but the Tigers outscored the Gauchos in the third period which turned out to be the deciding factor en route to a 6-5 victory.

It is the third-consecutive season the Tigers have placed third at the conference championships. The last time they reached the championship game was in 2016. Furthermore, it is the seventh-straight year Riverside has qualified for the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern Regional Championships.

It was a well spread attack as the Tigers saw six players score a goal. Freshman Vincenzo Inguanta kicked off the scoring with a netter just under six minutes in the first period. Sophomore Kenny Wulf scored the lone Tiger goal in the second to bring the score to two-all entering into the second half.

Two goals to the Gaucho's one in the third quarter was the different in the game. sophomore Juan Sosa fire home the first goal in the period, while freshman Fülöp Hegyi followed a minute later with a hummer of his own. The Tigers went on the take the contest by the final score of 6-5.

Sophomore goalkeeper Leonardo Monges was a beast between the pipes as seen in 17 saves.

Riverside (11-16, 3-4 OEC) will kick off regional play at home on Thursday, November 14. Times and opponents are TBD.