Latest win has Gauchos leading OEC

The Saddleback men's water polo team ran its winning streak to three games on Wednesday with a 13-7 win over Riverside City College at the Saddleback Aquatics Center.  The Gauchos now lead the Orange Empire Conference with the Saddleback Invitational coming up this Friday and Saturday.

Saddleback hasn't won an Orange Empire Conference title in 19 years (1998) and although it may seem a bit premature the Gauchos will take what they can get for the time being.  Saddleback improved to 3-0 in OEC play on Wednesday, beating a Riverside team that finished in second place the past two seasons.

Riverside took the lead less than two minutes into the game on a goal from Tyler Strabel at the 6:05 mark of the opening quarter.  It was the last lead the Tigers would have as Saddleback outscored Riverside 5-0 in the second quarter on way to a 13-7 win.

Andrew Dimino (7:00), Luke Prendiville (5:19), Max Gonter (4:21), Nathan Benge (4:02) and Joshua Mourer (00:42) all scored goals during the run as six different Gauchos scored on the day.  Dimino (pictured) and Prendiville would finish with a game-high of three goals apiece in the win.

Saddleback is now 10-3 overall on the season and 3-0 in Orange Empire Conference play.  The Gauchos will open the Saddleback Invitation on Friday when they host Diablo Valley College at 12:30 PM and Merced College at 5:10 PM.  Saddleback will play two games on Saturday against Las Positas College (12:40 PM) and Ventura College (5:20 PM).