Gauchos cruise past Dons

The Saddleback men's water polo team won its third straight game on Wednesday with a 23-6 win over Santa Ana College at the Saddleback pool.  The Gauchos dominated play from start to finish improving to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in Orange Empire Conference play.

Saddleback darted out of the gate, scoring in the first 19 seconds when Joshua Mourer found the back of the net.  It was the beginning of a dominating opening quarter as the Gauchos led 9-2 at the end of the opening quarter.  Nathan Benge (pictured) and Max Gonter each had three goals in the opening quarter while Eli Lew had the lone goals for Santa Ana.  Oscar Lopez scored three times in a matter of 2:03 late in the second quarter as Saddleback raced to a 17-3 lead at the half. 

Benge would finish with a team-leading six goals for the day while Gonter finished with four.  Lew would finish with all six goals for the Dons.

Saddleback will play again in the San Diego Mesa College Tournament on Friday and Saturday.