THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - As its tough non-conference schedule continues, the Cal Lutheran men's water polo team fell by the score of 18-6 against Division II opponent UC San Diego at the Sameulson Aquatics Center on Thursday night.

With the game being the first at home this season, the Kingsmen came out fired up and scored on the first possession of the game by way of sophomore Mats Albins. A few minutes later, Chris Gardhouse made it a 2-0 CLU lead after lofting a floater over the Triton goalie with the shot clock expiring.

UC San Diego, however, responded with a 3-0 spurt at the end of the quarter to regain the lead.

CLU goalie Nick Loomis came up with back-to-back saves in the early goings of the game, including an impressive stop on a Triton fast break.

To start the second quarter, Camron Hauer executed an impressive flip shot that deflected off the cross bar and into the goal to tie the game at 3-3.

From that moment on, it was all UC San Diego as the Tritons scored nine unanswered goals and outscored the Violet and Gold 15-3 for the remainder of the game.

Hauer led CLU with two goals while Albins, Gardhouse, George Lundgren and Zack Card also scored in the contest. Gardhouse also racked up five drawn ejections along with three steals and Loomis tallied a game-high 10 saves in the cage.

Cal Lutheran (0-3) will travel to New London, Conn. For the Connecticut College Invitational where it will take on MIT and Iona on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively. The Kingsmen will conclude the tournament on Sunday after squaring off against Penn State-Behrend and Connecticut College.

Box Score: UCSD 18, CLU 6
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