Balanced Attack, Defense Lead RCC to Fifth Victory in Miramar

Riverside City College men's water polo split two games at Miramar College's Mini Tournament, with a 26-8 victory over San Diego Mesa and 19-13 loss against Grossmont College on September 7. Those results move the Tigers to 5-2 on the year.

A balanced offensive attack led the Tigers comfortably past the Olympians, as nine players scored, including six with multiple goals. Defensively, Adrian Thompson posted 11 saves and five assists in the cage while splitting time with Leo Davis, who contributed six saves and three assists.  

Offensively, Lennon Franklin scored a team-high seven times and added two assists and two steals, while Nathan Ferguson scored four goals, two assists, and four steals. Luke Bills and Jack Armstrong both netted hat tricks, as well. Jace Johnson and Darian Thompson added two goals each.

RCC pulled away quickly by scoring the first 11 goals of the game in the opening 12 minutes. Ferguson scored three of those goals and Franklin chipped in two during the opening run. 

Coming off the win, the Tigers will take momentum into their next contest and first Orange Empire Conference game of the season at Cypress College on Wednesday, September 11 at 4:15 p.m.

In the opener versus Grossmont, Franklin and Bills put together big showings. Franklin filled the stat sheet with five goals, six steals, and an assist, while Bills drew five ejections and scored four times himself. Davis logged five saves in goal for RCC.

Nothing separated the teams in the first eight minutes, as the score was level at 6-6 after the first quarter. Bills had a hat trick in the first frame and Franklin scored twice, as well.

Grossmont went on a 7-1 run that stretched from the second quarter into the third, to lead 13-7 with about 15 minutes left in regulation. RCC cut its deficit down to four on two occasions (14-10, 16-12) but could not pull any closer.