UPSETTIN' BRONCS
SANTA CLARA, Calif. ? For whatever reason California Baptist was dropped out of the rankings this week, the Lancers now have all the reason to be back inside the top-20 after knocking off two ranked opponents including their biggest win in school history.
The Lancers (25-10) opened the day with an 8-7 win over No. 20 Air Force before they pulled off the upset of the year with a 9-7 victory over No. 12 Santa Clara.
The last time CBU pulled off a win over an opponent ranked that high was back in 2000 when the Lancers upset No. 12 Loyola Marymount, 8-5, but that contest was played at the Lancer Aquatics Center.
“This has to be the biggest win in our program's history, especially since it was on the road,” said CBU head coach Rick Rowland. “We have been so close in so many matches this year with top notch opponents. We were always a break away and we couldn't finish when we had the chance. That changed tonight. We finished and that was exactly what we needed to do.”
An unlikely hero for California Baptist, freshman Norbert Karoly was in the right place at the right time in both matches and made the most of each opportunity. Karoly scored both game-winners in the two wins. The Hungary native scored with just 30 seconds left against the Falcons in the opener and then put the Lancers up 8-7 with 1:34 left against the Broncos.
“Norby was just money for us today,” said Rowland. “He came up big in every situation for us. That's saying a lot for a freshman, but we are so deep in our underclassmen. He just has an uncanny way of finding space and sees opportunities well. They (Santa Clara) were cheating back on our posts and he took full advantage of that.”
On a day that Santa Clara was celebrating the grand opening of its new pool; California Baptist tuned out the raucous crowd and spoiled the party atmosphere.
Trailing 3-2 at the half and 4-2 early in the third, the Lancers used a 3-0 run sparked by Aaron Steiger to take a 5-4 lead heading into the third. The Broncos tied the contest at 7-7 late in the fourth, before Karoly put CBU on top for good. Steiger then put the finishing touches on the win with an insurance goal with just 46 seconds left.
Steiger led the way scoring a hat trick and CBU also got a pair of goals each from Brent Troutman and Karoly. Jason Bills and Peter Hines both scored solo goals. Zach Bowman also came up huge for CBU after notching seven saves, two assists and steal in the win just after one of his best games of the year against Air Force.
Bowman led the way for the Lancers from the cage, posting a school-record seven steals to go along with his nine saves in the win over the Falcons. No other keeper in school history had ever achieved that feat in a single game.
CBU needed every bit of defense and leaned on Steiger and Chris Morgan as Steiger scored four goals and Morgan dished out five assists. Morgan, along with Karoly, Hines and Chris Gwinn, scored single goals for CBU.
California Baptist will now get set for the final two weeks of the regular season as the Lancers host Golden West College, at 2:30 p.m., and Orange Coast College at 4 p.m.
