California Baptist University
Concordia
ALAN WRENCH
11/15/2008 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Alan Ogden scored the only goal in overtime to lead No. 19 California Baptist University to a thrilling 10-9 win over Concordia in both team's season finale Saturday afternoon at the Lancer Aquatics Center.
The Lancers conclude one of their finest seasons at 29-11 and extend their winning streak over the Eagles to seven straight. The 29 wins is a school-record. Concordia ends its season at 16-14.
“This was a season of endurance for us, playing more games than any other season,” said CBU Head Coach Rick Rowland. “We played quite a few of top 20 teams to test these guys, and we showed well against all of them. We tried to get these young guys some serious time, and I think it's going to payoff in the future. Our future is looking good, because our young guys got a ton of minutes this year.”
There were five ties and four lead changes and no lead grew bigger than two goals.
CBU led only twice in the game, the first one coming on Peter Hines' goal with 5:28 left in the third quarter, and the second coming on Ogden's game-winner with 51 seconds left in the first of two overtime periods. He shot was initially blocked by Eagle goalie Ryan Freerks but then trickled into the goal.
An inspired Concordia came out firing on all cylinders and scored three of the game's first four goals to take a 3-1 lead just 3:13 into the contest. However, single-season goal-scoring record holder Aaron Steiger made it 3-2, and then Chris Toy scored twice in a 1:14 span to tie the game at 4-4 at the end of the first quarter.
“It wasn't our best effort, but we got it done,” said Rowland. “They (Concordia) came out with a lot of emotion and were ready to take it to us. It took us awhile to respond, and we were taught a lesson today about the need to come out ready to go right from the start.”
Concordia led 6-5 at halftime and then scored the first goal of the third quarter to take a two-goal lead. Chris Morgan, Jeff Woolstenhulme and Hines, though, answered with three straight goals in a 1:50 span to give the Lancers their first lead of the game, a lead they held into the fourth quarter.
The Eagles scored two more goals to take a 9-8 lead with 3:59 left and then had two consecutive failed breakaway opportunities. Ogden tied the game at 9-9 with his first goal with 1:38 left in regulation to force overtime.
“If you're going to go to overtime, you have to win,” said Rowland. “It was definitely an entertaining game. We learned a lot about each other this season. When you win in overtime there's always something you can take from that.”
Steiger also had two goals. Alex Donovan and Kevin Rice each scored three times for the Eagles.
Zach Bowman made 10 saves. Freerks made nine saves.
