UC Irvine’s Mello earns conference recognition

UC Irvine senior driver Colin Mello has been named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation/Mikasa Co-Player of the Week in men’s water polo.

Mello scored two goals in Friday’s 7-6 MPSF win over Long Beach State, including the game-winner with 19 seconds left in regulation. He had missed the previous five games with a thumb injury on his shooting hand.

A second-team All-American last season when he led the MPSF with 87 goals, Mello has scored 26 goals in 11 games this season to rank fifth in the conference with an average of 2.36 goals per game.

He shared the award this week with Long Beach State goalkeeper Steve MacKenzie.

UCI, 9-7 overall and 2-1 in the MPSF, hosts UC San Diego Friday night in a nonconference game at 7 at Anteater Pool.

— From staff reports