California Baptist University
Concordia
LANCERS WIN OT THRILLER
2/24/2011 1:24:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- The California Baptist women's water polo team staved off a late run to maintain the team's perfect record against Concordia with a 9-8 win. Christina Webb scored a late goal to knot the match at 8-8, and then sealed the deal with the deciding goal in the first overtime. Six Lancers scored, while goalie Camryn Rogers posted 10 saves as CBU won its second straight to improved to 6-5 on the season.
The Lancers looked lethargic from the opening whistle, allowing Concordia (4-8) to take an 2-0 lead midway through the second quarter. CBU then woke up to go on a 5-1 run to end the half at 6-3 and seemingly took control of the match. Concordia, however, responded with a 4-2 run of its own, thanks to two of Lybov Thcougounova's (the nation's leading scorer) five goals.
The teams headed into the final quarter of regulation with a 6-6 tie. Mallory Montano opened up the fourth with her first goal of the match, but with just under three minutes to play Tchougounova found the back of the net twice to put the Eagles in position for the win ahead 8-7. Then, with only half a minute to go the Eagles' Abby Tsukamoto was ejected, giving the Lancers new life. Webb converted the 6-on-5 goal to keep CBU alive. The teams then swapped shots, but neither could score as the Lancers headed to their first overtime since a 12-13 loss to Santa Clara in February of last year.
In the first overtime period Webb scored the deciding goal, giving the sophomore her fourth hat trick of the season. Both teams failed to get anything going throughout the rest of the match as CBU improved to 4-1 at home this season.
Kylie Chevalier scored once (5-meter) and added to her school record assist total (153) with two dimes. Nicole Berry posted two goals and an assist, while Alyssa Birch had three steals. CBU will face Grove City on Friday at 2:30 p.m. before playing a double header in Fresno on Saturday.
