MWP | Gaels Make History with 20-11 Victory Over Whittier in Sold Out Home Opener

Sunday, September 6

Moraga, CA

11:00 AM

Saint Mary's College of California

Whittier

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

MWP | Gaels Make History with 20-11 Victory Over Whittier in Sold Out Home Opener

9/6/2026 2:16:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

MORAGA, Calif. — The Saint Mary's men's water polo team brought history home on Sunday afternoon with a 20-11 win over Whittier, marking the program's first-ever home game and first home victory. The highly anticipated home opener drew excitement from across the Saint Mary's and Lamorinda communities, with a sold out crowd and standing room only at the Soda Aquatic Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Gaels came out hot and ready to put on a show in their first-ever home game, as Hamish Ellison opened the scoring to record the first home goal in program history off an assist from Domenico Barillà. The Gaels continued to apply the pressure, tallying five goals to the Poets' three in just the first eight minutes of action. Saint Mary's continued to control the action in the second quarter, as the team found the back of the net seven times, and held Whittier to just one, to take a 12-4 advantage heading into the break. Federico Castrucci made seven saves in goal, while also recording three steals and a pair of assists before giving way to Griffin Lagsdin for half number two.

Making his first appearance of the season, Jacob Carlson recorded his first goal as a Gael in the third quarter off an assist from Mason Black. The Gaels and Poets each added three goals in the third, sending Saint Mary's into the final eight minutes with a 15-7 lead. Saint Mary's finished off the historic afternoon in front of the sold out crowd, securing the 20-11 victory.

GAME NOTES

Saint Mary's earned its first home victory in program history in its first-ever game at the Soda Aquatic Center.
The Gaels' home opener was sold out with standing room only.
Jacob Carlson made his first appearance of the season and scored his first goal as a Gael.
Three different Gaels recorded hat tricks, with Mason Black, Rocco Di Rosa, and Hamish Ellison each scoring three goals to lead Saint Mary's offensively.
Andrew Donlin led Saint Mary's with five assists in the victory.
Goalkeepers Federico Castrucci and Griffin Lagsdin combined for 10 saves, with Castrucci recording seven saves, two assists, and three steals, while Lagsdin added three saves and one steal.
Defensively, Mason Black and Rocco Di Rosa joined Castrucci with a team-high three steals each, while Noah Bigara and Hamish Ellison each drew three exclusions.
Bigara continues to lead the Gaels with 22 drawn exclusions through seven matches.
The Gaels improve to 3-4 overall in their inaugural season.

LOOKING AHEAD

Saint Mary's will continue its exciting inaugural season next week as the team travels east for the Princeton Invitational, with four games across three days. The action will begin on Friday, September 11 at 12:20 p.m. as the Gaels take on Princeton.

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