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No. 3 seed UC Davis surged into The Big West Championship Final with a decisive 15–7 win over No. 2 seed UC Santa Barbara in the Big West Men's Water Polo Semifinal round on Saturday afternoon at the Anteater Aquatics Complex.

UC Davis struck first and never trailed, punching in four goals in the opening period behind crisp passing and disciplined front-court execution. UCSB responded twice to stay within reach, but the Aggies’ early rhythm established a 4–2 lead after eight minutes.

The second frame featured another strong offensive push from UC Davis, which added four more goals to extend its advantage. Though UCSB generated three scores of its own, the Aggies maintained control on both ends of the pool, entering halftime ahead 8–5.

UC Davis tightened its defensive structure in the third, holding the Gauchos scoreless while continuing to dictate pace. The Aggies’ counterattack created consistent pressure, and goalkeeper Baxter Chelsom delivered key stops on the few quality looks UCSB produced.

The Aggies put the match out of reach in the fourth period with a six-goal explosion, showcasing a deep and balanced scoring attack. Oleg Shatskikh led UC Davis with four goals, while Andrew Hitchcock, Max Prokhin, and Thomas Marr each added two. Chelsom’s 11 saves anchored a defensive unit that allowed just two goals in the entire second half.

UCSB’s offense was paced by Danilo Dragovic and Charlie Johnson, who each found the net multiple times, but the Gauchos were unable to keep pace with UC Davis’ sustained pressure and scoring depth. Goalkeeper Levi Lentin finished with eight saves for UCSB.

With the victory, UC Davis advances to the Big West Championship final, positioning itself to compete for the conference crown on Sunday. The Aggies enter the title match riding a wave of strong defensive play and an attack that continues to fire on all cylinders.
 

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