RIVERSIDE, Calif. — For three-fourths of the game Thursday night, California Baptist University set the tone against No. 15-ranked UC San Diego. Unfortunately for the Lancers, the last quarter proved to be their downfall in a 13-11 loss.
"For three quarters, we played great," said Coach
Kevin Rosa. "We were on schedule through the third quarter, but I think we tightened up a little bit in the fourth unfortunately. We gave up seven goals in the first three quarters and six in the fourth and that's not a good recipe to win."
The loss snaps the Lancers' seven-game winning streak as they drop to 9-7 on the year, 1-2 in the Western Water Polo Association. The Tritons improve to 7-7 overall and remain unblemished with a 2-0 conference record.
Tucker Angelo started things off for the Lancers early in the first period, skipping in a shot just under the Triton goalie's arms.
Christopher Forte followed right behind with a skip shot of his own, giving CBU an early 2-0 lead. The lead wouldn't last long, however, as the Tritons scored unanswered goals to even the score for the first time.
Like he started the first period, Angelo tucked his second of four goals on the night away in the second, taking advantage of a defensive miscue from UCSD. A Trtion defender tried to pass it back to his goalie, but didn't see Angelo lurking in the water. The sophomore utility pounced on the free ball and put it away to put his team back in front, 3-2.
"Tucker is always grinding, busting his tail and working hard," said Rosa. "He got some great opportunities and hit some great shots when we needed him to."
After UCSD evened the score back at 3-3, the Lancers scored two unanswered goals in the second period to take another two-goal lead at 5-3. Angelo rattled in the first goal to complete his hat trick, while
Brent Teraoka just started on his off a counter-attack score.
Despite CBU's best efforts, the Tritons wouldn't ease up offensively and tied the game for the third time at 5-5 before taking their first lead of the game at 6-5.
Nick Candau had the response for the 3-0 run, sending in a shot off an assist from Forte.
Knotted at 6-6 to start the third, the Lancers looked to go back in front, but the shot was just off target, rattling off the woodwork. Not long after,
Clint Walling sent in a deep shot passed the Triton goalie to regain CBU's lead.
Continuing the back-and-forth action, the Tritons tied the score back at 7-7, but CBU went on a 2-0 run off back-to-back scores from Teraoka as the Lancers made key stops on defense in the third. Once again UCSD would battle back to even things up in the fourth at 10-10 before taking a 12-10 lead just as the clock hit 2:39 left to play.
Angelo scored his final goal of the night off a pass from Candau, putting the Lancers within one, 12-11, but it'd be the closest CBU would get as UCSD capitalized once more to end the game with the 13-11 victory.
Joseph Moorman made six saves in the game.
While disappointed in the loss, the Lancers get no time for remorse as they host the Lancer Invite, a two-day tournament beginning Friday afternoon. CBU takes on Citrus College first at 2:00 p.m. Friday afternoon and follows with a matchup against Division III's No. 7-ranked Cal Lutheran at 6:00 p.m.
"Hopefully we can get out some aggression now tomorrow," said Rosa. "I'd be lying if I said this one didn't sting, but we can't sit around and mope. We have two games tomorrow and two on Saturday so we have to get back to work tomorrow."
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