MWP | Gaels Fall in Rematch to No. 13 UCSB Gauchos at BW Invitational

Saturday, October 3

San Jose, CA

3:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

UC Santa Barbara

MWP | Gaels Fall in Rematch to No. 13 UCSB Gauchos at BW Invitational

10/3/2026 5:20:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The 20th ranked Saint Mary's men's water polo team fell to the 13th ranked UCSB Gauchos 14-8 in their second matchup of the season. The Gaels were led by a fifth career hat trick from freshman Leo Hachem and kept the match close all the way through before falling to the Gauchos in their first ever visit to the Spartan Rec & Aquatic Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Gaels fell behind early after a 4-0 run by UCSB, before freshman attacker Nicholas Valente slotted the first goal for Saint Mary's. Harry Irwin then picked up his 11th field block of the season, tying him for the West Coast Conference lead. Two quick goals for Gaels' goal leader Leo Hachem kept the game close heading into the half, with the Gaels trailing 6-3 at the intermission.

Hachem then slotted home a five-meter penalty to pick up his third goal of the match and 29th of the season. Federico Castrucci continued to keep the Gaels in the match, picking up four first-half saves and seven in the match alone, his fifth seven-save match of the season. Donovan Swann picked up two second-half goals, while Nicholas Valente slotted home his second goal of the match in the fourth quarter. While the Gaels continued to battle, the ten different Gaucho goalscorers were enough to give UCSB the edge in another close battle for Saint Mary's.

GAME NOTES

Leo Hachem picked up his fifth career hat trick, bringing his season total to a team-high 29 goals.
Donovan Swann picked up two goals in the match for the third time this season, while Nicholas Valente recorded his first career brace in the match.
Mason Black scored for the third consecutive match, bringing his season total to 18 goals.
Federico Castrucci recorded seven saves, the fifth time this season he's done so for the Gaels.
Freshman Hamish Ellison recorded five drawn exclusions in the match, the most among any Gael in a match this season.
Four different Gael freshmen picked up an assist in the match, including Nicholas Valente, Ferran De Witt, Kyle Stilinovich, and Stryder Stelck.

LOOKING AHEAD

Saint Mary's men's water polo returns to action next Friday, October 9th, at 6:30 p.m. for the West Coast Conference opener versus the No. 14 LMU Lions in Moraga. The match can be streamed live on ESPN+, with tickets available for purchase HERE or at smcgaels.com/tickets.

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