RAINY DAY BLUES
SANTA CLARA, Calif. --- It was a rare and rainy day indeed for the No. 15 California Baptist men's water polo team as the Lancers dropped back-to-back matches for the first time in over a year.
On a rain-soaking Saturday CBU lost 8-9 to No. 13 Santa Clara and suffered a brutally close double overtime loss to No. 11 UC Davis.
In the first match of the day the Lancers (24-5) faced tournament host Santa Clara and held tight with them all match. The two teams were locked at ones after the first.
However, the Broncos outscored the Lancers 3-1 in the second. CBU brought it to within one heading into the fourth trailing 5-6.
But Santa Clara sealed the game in the fourth to give the Lancers just their fourth loss of the season.
Santa Clara's Michael Wishart was a wall, saving 14 shots on the day.
Aaron Steiger scored four in a losing effort, while
Alan Ogden added two.
In the second match the Lancers faced UC Davis in an epic battle.
CBU was a little flat coming out of the gate, allowing the Aggies to jump to a 5-2 lead after the first quarter.
But the Lancers responded, scoring three times while giving up just two goals. At the half CBU trailed 5-7.
The second half was all CBU, as
Brent Troutman (3 goals in the game) led the Lancer comeback. CBU was able to tie the match at 9-9 with nine seconds left in regulation thanks to
Aaron Steiger's second goal of the game.
Unfortunately for CBU the rally ended, partially due to a controversial call that erased what would have been a game-tying goal by Ogden.
The Lancers were unable to score in either overtime period as UC Davis narrowly defeated CBU 9-11.
Chris Toy scored twice, while
Scott Gleason and
Keith Jizmejian each notched a goal.
Goalkeeper
Austen Ramer had six saves in each match.
“We gave them all they could handle,” Said Head Coach
Rick Rowland. “I would have liked to come out of their with a split, but hopefully it will make us stronger going forward.”
The Lancers faced three top-20 opponents at Santa Clara's Rodeo Tournament, and came out with just one win.
