California Baptist University
Indiana University
Ranked Showmanship
2/22/2014 3:07:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Seven of California Baptist University's 13 games have come against NCAA top-20 ranked competition this season.
Nerves are not much of a factor for the Lancers, who have worked their way into the top-20 elite. Nineteenth-ranked CBU found itself in another ranked-on-ranked battle, on its longest road trip of the season and in the middle of a bunch of pageantry, when it visited No. 15 Indiana Friday.
The Hoosiers picked up a 14-11 victory in their home opener and senior day. CBU slipped to 7-6 and Indiana improved to 9-2.
“It was tough and it was close,” head coach Jonathan Miller said. “The girls played well, but we knew Indiana would come out pumped. This was their only weekend of home games. It was their season opener and senior day all rolled up into one.”
Laura Kocsis led CBU with a game-high five goals, while Hannah Evans drew an impressive seven ejections in a game that included about 25 man-advantage calls, Miller said. Christina Young had four goals and an assist, while Samantha Banks had a pair of scores and helpers of her own for the Lancers. Meghan Rowland played the whole game in the cage for CBU and logged 12 saves and three steals.
“It was kind of a prep trip for the rest of the season,” Miller said. “We knew we had to be head and shoulders better than them to win in their pool. We knew it would be tough, and it was.”
The Lancers fell into a 4-1 hole to open the contest, but only got better as the minutes went along, as has been their M.O. all season. CBU pulled within a goal on three occasions at 4-3, 5-4 and 7-6 but saw the Hoosiers rattle off three-straight to go up four goals, 10-6.
“We slowly climbed back into it but could never really catch back up,” Miller said. “We have to work on starting out better, but we are definitely not having any problem finishing games.”
Indiana grew the lead to five, 13-8, before the Lancers scored two-straight goals to pull within 13-10 in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers ended the run with a goal of their own and held on for the 14-11 victory.
“We're not scared of anybody, that's for sure,” Miller said of his team. “That comes with playing a tough schedule, and that's why we try to get into as many tough teams as possible – that's why we came out to Indiana.
“We played well and it was a really good experience that will benefit us the rest of the year. It was a good taste of what the NCAA has to offer.”
