California Baptist University
Loyola Marymount
On the Edge
11/9/2012 4:18:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- A gut-wrenching loss to No. 11 Loyola Marymount left the California Baptist University fans feeling the chill on this rainy Thursday night.
After what was looking like an improbable comeback at the end of the third quarter, the Lions passed the Lancers and went on to win 8-7.
“It is so frustrating,” said head coach Rick Rowland. “We are so close to knocking off a top-12 team. We have two one-goal losses to a top-12 this year.”
With 5:29 remaining in the first half, LMU led CBU 4-1 after scoring three unanswered goals. The Lancers battled back with a flurry of goals in the final minute of the half, tying the score at four. A goal for the Lions with :17 left put them ahead 5-4 at the end of the first half.
“I am proud of the way that the guys rallied back after being down 4-1,” Rowland said.
Three of the Lancers four goals in the first half were natural goals, not coming off of a penalty or exclusion.
Exclusions were common in tonight's game, the Lancers had 11 exclusions and two five-meter penalties and the Lions had seven exclusions and one five-meter penalty.
CBU failed to score in seven 6-on-5 situations, while LMU was able to convert two of their 11 chances.
“They played a really good drop [defense] on us,” said Rowland. “They took away a lot of our good 6-on-5 chances.”
The second half began well for the Lancers as they scored twice in the first five minutes to pull ahead 6-5. After holding the Lions scoreless, they ended the third with the lead.
“Austen Ramer played his same great game for us tonight,” said Rowland. “He kept us in the game until the end, just like he always does.”
Ramer tallies seven saves, but was most effective when he came out of the cage; he changed the course of the game with several big steals.
The fourth quarter was tough for the Lancers as they were outscored 3-1 on the way to the one-goal loss. They had one last opportunity to tie the game with about :40 left, but an incomplete pass resulted in a turnover that the Lancers could never recover.
“They [LMU] had a great quarter, they put away their chances and we did not” said Rowland. “It is unfortunate since we had a chance to get them at home.”
When they did score the Lancers spread the ball around well, getting goals from five different players. Scott Gleason and Matt Puig led CBU with two goals apiece, including a beautiful, and improbable, lob shot put away by Gleason in the third quarter.
“Puig played great today, he put away two magnificent shots,” said Rowland.
Kellan Falconieri, Cameron Custance and David Ring rounded out the scoring for the Lancers.
The loss puts CBU at 15-12 on the season with just two games left on the schedule. Both of those games can be seen this weekend at the Lancer Aquatic Center as the Lancers host the Collegiate Water Polo Association national invite.
CBU will take on Concordia tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. and Fresno Pacific on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Lancers have a 1-0 record against Concordia and a 2-0 record against FPU this year.
“We will dedicate the next two games to our seniors,” Rowland said. “We have six seniors leaving the program. Ramer and Gleason will leave pretty high up in some individual stats.”
Ramer, Gleason, Falconieri, Scott Butler, Chris Vanjoff and Keith Jizmejian will all be announced at Saturday's game.
