It was a sunny late afternoon, the temperature felt just right, and the pool was glistening as the Mt. SAC men’s water polo team took aim to take down the Long Beach Vikings. SAC was hungry for the victory but the Vikings were starving as they took the win 15-8.

The game started off hot, both teams taking charge and shooting early. With the help of freshman attacker Paco Lopez (24), sophomore attacker Trevor Davis (7) was the first person to not only score a goal but was the first person to score, putting SAC a 1-0 lead.

But Davis (7) didn’t want to be the only one scoring goals, so he shared the ball and assisted freshman utility player Jacob Carlson (17) on the second goal of the game.

“Honestly, just taking the right shots when it’s my shot,” Davis (7) said about his confidence when he attacks to score. “Just be more patient taking shots when it’s your shot.”

SAC was feeling good and competing at a high level, but could they keep it up?

The Vikings didn’t take SAC gaining the lead too kindly. As they would score two goals back to back to even the playing field going into the second quarter.

“We have a lot of offensive threats,” assistant coach Ruh said, “and sometimes defense can be a challenge.”

The start of the second quarter was a perfect mirror of the first just with a little twist. Instead of Davis (7) scoring and assisting both of SAC’s next two points. Freshman attacker Nazareth Longoria-Morasky (20) and freshman attacker Andon Hanson (23) were the two that gladly took the aid Davis (7) was handing out to score the goals.

But before you know it, SAC was in an even worse position than they were in the first quarter. The Vikings didn’t just tie the score up, they had scored three goals to take the lead 5-4.

SAC was entering another quarter without a lead and down by one point.

“I think we’re just one step behind everything,” Hale (1A) said. “I think offensively we worked really well together. I think we’re just one click away and then after that, we’re solid.”

SAC would go into full iso mode as Longoria-Morasky (20), Carlson (17), and Flores (3) would all take matters into their own hands and score three unassisted goals individually.

SAC’s players showed individual skill, but lacked teamwork.

“Playing as a group, together, I feel like we stayed away from that,” Davis (7) said. “We’re playing individual ball. So, if we start to play like a team again, I feel we can come back and beat Long Beach for sure.”

The final goal for SAC was another team-up play between Carlson (17) and Davis (7), but by the time they had scored that point, the Vikings were already up by five and time wound down in the fourth quarter.

With SAC already looking ahead to their next game, the Vikings would score two more goals to seal the deal 15-8, adding a fourth loss to the disappointing losing streak that SAC desperately wants to break.

“We’re coming back!” Hale (1A) said,” we’re coming back for a long pitch that does not define what we played today. That score does not define anything that this program is built off.”

“I think everyone had great energy and effort,” assistant coach Ruh said. “We’ll get them the next time we see them [the Vikings].”

SAC’s next opportunity to get back on the winning side will be Wednesday Oct. 22, against the El Camino Warriors.