California Baptist University
Fresno Pacific
Last Homestand
11/17/2013 1:20:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – California Baptist University got the start it wanted for its senior day, but the day didn't quite end the way the Lancers had hoped.
CBU closed out the regular season with a doubleheader Saturday, as Fresno Pacific and No. 12-ranked Concordia visited the Lancer Aquatic Center. CBU split the day with a 15-10 win over the Sunbirds and 12-6 loss to the highly-ranked Eagles.
“It was a tale of two games,” head coach Rick Rowland said. “Unfortunately, we just didn't execute in the Concordia game."
The Lancers now stand at 15-15 overall as they head into the postseason after Saturday's split. Concordia improved to 21-9 on the year, as it also posted a 17-11 win over Fresno Pacific, which falls to 7-17 on the season.
Buoyed by a six-goal performance from senior Matt Puig and an eight-save game from senior goalie Dylan Vrooman, CBU opened the day strong against Fresno Pacific.
With an all-senior starting lineup, CBU got off to a quick start against the Sunbirds--a team it defeated 16-11 on Oct. 23. Puig scored two of the Lancers' first three goals, including an assist from Robert Nichols, to give them a 3-1 lead headed into the second frame. Puig continued on to finish the first two tallies of the second quarter, as well, keeping CBU with a two-goal cushion.
FPU scored consecutive goals on man-advantages in the second quarter, with Daniel Seymour and David Maes cracking the cage with 5:14 and 3:43 left in the frame, respectively, to pull the Sunbirds within 4-3.
Puig answered back 16 seconds later and scored off an Eric Carnohan assist to increase the lead back to two. Trevor Rowland extended the Lancers' edge to three, at 6-3, with a goal off a Keith Jizmejian pass with 2:35 to go in the half.
CBU maintained a a three-goal edge, 7-4, at halftime after another Carnohan score with 1:18 to play.
The Sunbirds looked to trim the deficit and drew two penalties in the first 34 seconds of the second half. Vrooman denied the Sunbirds on each try, as he blocked a five-meter penalty shot 20 seconds in and then saved a six-on-five chance with 6:26 to play in the quarter.
“Dylan was awesome, he's a great goalie,” Rowland said. “We're gifted with two quality goalies.”
The Lancers scored the first four goals of the third frame, on two goals each from Jizmejian and Puig, to go up 11-4 with 2:48 to go. FPU rallied within five, 11-6, going into the fourth with a pair of goals in the final 29 seconds of the third.
CBU enjoyed a 3-0 run in the fourth quarter, with Cameron Custance, Cody Wetherbee and Tyler Anthony helping seal the win.
“It was a great game and everybody played,” Rowland said. “Matt [Puig] had a heck of a game with six goals.”
In the nightcap, Concordia took the Lancers out of their element, as the Eagles scored six straight goals to open the game. The Eagles took advantage of defensive mistakes and turnovers to take control of the match and never let go.
“You can't turn over the ball and shoot the way we did and stay with a team that's been ranked around the top-10 in the country all season," said Rowland. "This team can play with anyone in the country, we're a very good team, but we didn't pull off the upset."
CBU got on the board with 4:21 to play in the third quarter on a cross-cage shot from Wetherbee, who added another goal 1:10 before the fourth to put the score at 9-2.
Jizmejian scored in quick succession in the third quarter after a flagrant misconduct was called on the Eagles. First, he converted a five-meter penalty with 4:35 to play, and then buried a six-on-five shot 22 seconds later to pull the Lancers within six at 11-5.
"The second game taught us a few things we need to focus on for the Western Water Polo Association Championships," said Rowland. "This weekend was really a warm-up for the WWPAs.”
CBU will take part in the WWPA Championships on Friday at 2 p.m., taking on No. 14 Santa Clara, a team that grabbed a 10-8 victory over the Lancers on Oct. 24 at UC Davis.
