The Avengers
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- It was a late addition to the No. 18 California Baptist University schedule, but the Lancers jumped at the opportunity for a rematch with No. 19 Air Force and claimed a 9-7 win Friday afternoon.
After dropping the last two contests, the Lancers get back on track with the win to improve to 12-9 on the season, while the USAFA falls to 4-8 overall. The two teams compete in the Western Water Polo Association conference, although this matchup does not count toward the conference records.
"It's fun to win at home against a conference opponent," said head coach Rick Rowland. "We have confidence against a conference opponent heading into the WWPA tournament now. That's a huge factor for us."
CBU was paced by Cameron Custance with three goals, an assist, forced turnover and two blocked shots.
"Cameron probably had the game of the season today," said Rowland. "I haven't seen him score three goals, he's usually a one or two goal guy. He was a big difference in the game."
Jake Jizmejian and Matt Puig also added two goals apiece for the Lancers, followed by Trevor Rowland and Keith Jizmejian each netting one. Defensively, Joseph Moorman made 12 saves to keep his team in the contest, a majority of which came at crucial times in the fourth quarter.
Keith Jizmejian opened the game with a goal in the first minute of action, commencing a yo-yo battle as each team would pull ahead only to have its opponent right back on its trail. The defensive battle knotted the squads tied at 3-3 at halftime.
"I can't remember the last time it was a 3-3 half," said Rowland. "It was a very defensive-minded game. Both teams dropped back and zone marked to not let the ball into the two-meter area."
Neither team could shake its opposition in the third, only pulling ahead by one point at a time. USAFA managed to grab a slight edge over the Lancers at 6-5 heading into the fourth, but CBU wasn't ready to throw in the towel.
Remembering the last time these two teams faced each other, where the Falcons powered through the fourth quarter to seal the victory, CBU decided it was the Lancers' time to make an impressive late run to come away with the win.
"We had some wings in the fourth quarter," said Rowland. "Our goalie really stepped up big in the fourth and made some huge saves. We also finished some big shots. It's nice to go on a 4-1 run in the fourth quarter. That's what they did to us at altitude so we were able to flip the tables on them."
Trailing 6-5 after three periods of play, CBU came out determined to take back the game and went on a 4-1 run to succeed. Puig opened the quarter with a backhanded shot to tie the game at 6-6 and, although USAFA answered back, the Lancers finished the quarter with three unanswered goals to win 9-7, including a redirected shot off a scripted play from Jake Jizmejian.
"We're playing better than we did three weeks ago," said Rowland. "We just need to keep playing constistent water polo."
CBU heads out on the road next week, heading to Fresno Pacific for a mid-week matchup on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
