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David Bernal

Men's Water Polo 8/31/2026 9:10:00 AM Anthony Avila

Leopards Score Last Second Goal to Defeat McKendree

LA JOLLA, CA — Zack Montoya found the back of the net as time expired and the University of La Verne men's water polo team secured a dramatic 13-12 win over McKendree University on the final day of the Triton Invitational.

After the Bearcats tied the game with 28 seconds left to play, La Verne native Montoya secured the Leopards' second win of the season. The freshman finished the game with two goals.

Jordan Baker led La Verne with four goals and Timothy Robles added three. Baker gave La Verne a 5-1 lead midway through the second quarter, but McKendree battled back, cutting the deficit to 5-4 at the half.

La Verne held a 11-8 lead with 6:31 remaining. After Robles scored to make it 12-10, the Bearcats played stubborn defense, holding the Leopards scoreless for nearly five minutes. But Montoya's last-second heave was all the Leopards needed.

Nicolo Buono, Johan Gaytan, and Zachariah Barclay each scored once.

The Leopards fell to Division 1 Long Beach State, 25-6, in the final game of the tournament.

Tournament Goal Leaders

Jordan Baker - 9
Timothy Robles - 7
Nicolo Buono - 4
Xavier Turla - 5
Christian Acosta - 3
Zachariah Barclay - 3
Zack Montoya - 3
Johan Gaytan - 2
Ethan Estephan - 2
William Roby Unkovich - 2
Matthew Kingston - 2
Tommy Gibson - 1

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Players Mentioned

#19 Zachariah Barclay: UTL; 5' 8"; Senior; San Diego Shores

#13 Ethan Estephan: ATT; 6' 1"; Sophomore; Foothill

#9 Timothy Robles: UTL; 6' 1"; Senior; Commerce

#4 Jordan Baker: ATT; 6' 1"; Senior

#7 Nicolo Buono: ATT; 6' 0"; Senior; CHAWP

#3 Tommy Gibson: ATT; 6' 0"; Senior; Route 66

#14 William Roby Unkovich: UTL; 6' 0"; Sophomore; Foothill

#6 Xavier Turla: ATT; 5' 8"; Junior

#18 Zack Montoya: ATT; 5' 9"; Freshman

#8 Christian Acosta: UTL; 6' 1"; Junior

#11 Johan Gaytan: CD; 6' 0"; Junior

#17 Matthew Kingston: UTL; 5' 10"; Junior; Kings Elite, CV Premier

Players Mentioned

#19 Zachariah Barclay
: 5' 8"; Senior; San Diego Shores
: UTL

#13 Ethan Estephan
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; Foothill
: ATT

#9 Timothy Robles
: 6' 1"; Senior; Commerce
: UTL

#4 Jordan Baker
: 6' 1"; Senior
: ATT

#7 Nicolo Buono
: 6' 0"; Senior; CHAWP
: ATT

#3 Tommy Gibson
: 6' 0"; Senior; Route 66
: ATT

#14 William Roby Unkovich
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; Foothill
: UTL

#6 Xavier Turla
: 5' 8"; Junior
: ATT

#18 Zack Montoya
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: ATT

#8 Christian Acosta
: 6' 1"; Junior
: UTL

#11 Johan Gaytan
: 6' 0"; Junior
: CD

#17 Matthew Kingston
: 5' 10"; Junior; Kings Elite, CV Premier
: UTL