California Baptist University
Concordia
GOING OUT IN STYLE
4/19/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE, Calif. ? California Baptist can add another team to its championship roster after the Lancers defeated Concordia, 13-6, in the title game of the inaugural Women's Water Polo National Invitational at the Lancer Aquatic Center.
“We really wanted to come out and play our game and not try to change things for Concordia,” said CBU head coach Jacob Medina, who was also named Coach of the Year. “The whole season prepared us for this. It just all came together, and we were able to execute our game plan. We were able to take their (Concordia) best players out of the game”
The Lancers (27-12) become the sixth different program in school history to earn a national title in their respective sport.
The win also sets a program-record for wins in a single season.
It didn't take long for California Baptist to let everyone know that it was their tournament to win. The Lancers got a goal in the first 1:16 from tournament MVP Whitney Shaw, the first of seven straight scores for CBU.
“We had been preparing for this all year long,” said Shaw. “This is the first time we've had the opportunity to play for something. We knew what to expect after playing them three times this year. We knew we just had to get motivated and not trade goals with them.”
In that 7-0 stretch, all-tournament team selection Chelsea Gentry scored three of her game-high five goals as CBU was on its way to a 9-2 lead at the half. Corrie Stuursma made it a 10-2 advantage for the Lancers early in the third. The Eagles answered 22 seconds later, but CBU responded with back-to-back goals from Shaw and Gentry to go up 12-3 just 16 seconds into the fourth quarter.
“Chelsea has been that type of player for us all year,” said Medina. “She just does a great job of being aggressive and getting to the goal. When it came time to put the ball in the back of the net she stepped it up and came up big for us.”
The Eagles tried to rally, scoring three straight in the fourth, but a goal from senior Julie Snodgrass sealed the win for the Lancers.
Goalie Julie Abendschein also received all-tournament team honors after she posted nine saves.
Shaw, Snodgrass and Owen all scored a pair of goals while Stuursma and Brittany Baurer all scored solo goals. Baurer also saw time in the cage in the final minutes and recorded a pair of saves.
California Baptist advanced to the title after finishing round robin play undefeated by downing Fresno Pacific 13-9. The Lancers stormed out of the gate scoring seven goals in the first quarter alone. CBU jumped out 3-0 on goals by Shaw, Sturrsma and Collette Brown. Ashleigh Wheeler then made it 4-1 before Shaw scored her second goal of the quarter to make it 5-1. Baurer and Brown closed out the quarter with a goal each.
CBU outscored the Sunbirds 3-2 in the second on goals by Brown, Gentry and a five-meter score by Snodgrass to take a 10-4 lead at the half.
The Lancers opened the second half with three straight goals from Baurer, Stuursma and Pais to take a 13-5 lead heading into the fourth. The Sunbirds made a valiant run in the fourth scoring four goals while holding CBU scoreless in the final quarter.
Abendschein, Kayla Lind and Kristen Post all combined for 11 saves.
