UCSC's men's water polo team won the Division III National Collegiate Club Championship in St. Paul, Minn., this week.
Player of the Game Kyle Smith scored a tournament record seven title game goals, including five in the first half, as the Banana Slugs built a 10-2 first half lead to knock off Monmouth College 18-2 for the 2010 Men's Division III National Collegiate Club Championship at Macalester College's Leonard Center.
Overall, Santa Cruz outshot Monmouth 26-14 while holding a 41-to-21 advantage in offensive tries (shots on goal plus missed shots) to cruise to the win. The key to the game was the Banana Slugs' ability to control the ball and keep Monmouth's leading scorers in check for all but two shots.
Besides Smith, the Slugs received hat-tricks by Zach Fuller and Chris Roman and single strikes by Corbin Clarke, Colton Griffiths, Sam Hock, Scott Mielke and Jacob Mitchell.
This is the first Collegiate Water Polo Association Div. III National Title for the Men's Water Polo sports club at UCSC.
