California Baptist University
Gannon University
A CLEAN SWEEP
10/4/2009 2:45:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
CLAREMONT, Calif. --- No. 20-ranked California Baptist University swept through the Claremont Convergence tournament this weekend, bringing its season record to 14-2. On day one, the Lancers notched wins over Fordham (N.Y.) 12-11 and Gannon (Penn.) 15-3. Day two brought another pair of wins for CBU, with victories over George Washington (D.C.) 10-1 and Harvard (Mass.) 14-5.
In CBU's first game of the tournament, the Lancers faced off against Fordham. On the backs of Aaron Steiger and Chris Toy, CBU squeaked by the Rams.
The Lancers were led in scoring by Steiger and Toy who each posted five goals for CBU. Austen Ramer recorded 12 saves, and Tommy Hunter added three assists in the win. The Lancers also converted six of their seven 6-on-5 goal opportunities.
Game two matched CBU against Gannon. The Lancers submitted a balanced scoring effort, with 10 different players finding the back of the net to convert the win over the Golden Knights.
Steiger again led scoring for CBU with three goals. Ramer posted an impressive stat line with 14 saves, six steals and two assists. Jeff Woolstenhulme, Daniel Tayenaka, Nick Janzen, and Chris Gwinn each posted two goals in the game, while Woolstenhulme also recorded four steals. The Lancers again converted six of their seven 6-on-5 goal opportunities.
Day two brought the same results for the Lancers. CBU started the day versus George Washington. The match began slowly, with CBU only managing a 2-0 lead going into halftime. However, the Lancer offense came to life in the second half as CBU rattled off a 4-1 run in the third quarter and a 4-0 run in the final period to notch another win.
CBU was led by Gwinn, Steiger, and Peter Hines in the scoring column with two goals each. Jeremy Atkinson notched two assists. Ramer posted eight saves and three steals in the goal. CBU made two of five 6-on-5 goals.
The Lancers' final game of the tournament set them to face off with Harvard. This game also saw numerous scorers, with eight Lancers notching a mark in the "goals" column. CBU posted 12 steals as a team and forced six turnovers in the victory over Harvard.
"That's something we work on for every game," said head coach Rick Rowland. "In every game this weekend, we had at least 10 steals, except the game against Fordham."
Stegier led the Lancers in scoring again with five goals, bringing his weekend total to 15. Keith Jizmejian and Toy posted two goals each in the win. Atkinson recorded three steals and two assists in the game, and Gwinn and Steiger each posted two steals. Ramer added nine more saves to his tournament total, bringing him to 43 for the weekend. CBU converted three of five 6-on-5 goal opportunities.
The Lancers were 17-of-24 in 6-on-5 opportunities this weekend, good for 71-percent. CBU held their opponents to 4-of-27 successful 6-on-5 attempts in the tournament.
"We've been working really hard in those two areas in practice, and we saw a lot of progress this weekend," said Rowland. "I'm happiest about that stat this weekend."
California Baptist will be in action again Tuesday versus Golden West (Calif.). The contest is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Lancer Aquatics Center.
