CBU Athletics

CBU Downs Air Force with Depth

11/4/2016 4:30:00 PM

Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Two weeks before the Western Water Polo Association Championship, California Baptist University found itself locked in a back-and-forth contest with conference rival Air Force on Friday afternoon at the Lancer Aquatics Center.
 
There were three lead changes and five ties in the game, but the depth from the 15^th-ranked Lancers wore on the Falcons in the second half and CBU prevailed on a score of 12-10. CBU improves to 20-9, 3-3 in the WWPA and Air Force slides to 7-15, 1-5.
 
"This is perfect, this is exactly what we need," Coach Kevin Rosa said of the tightly-contest game. "You don't get a lot from blowing somebody out. A game like this, where it's tight throughout and you're playing well late, is exactly what you want and should benefit us in a couple of weeks."
 
The Lancers host their Senior Day and final regular-season game against Concordia Saturday, Nov. 12^th at noon. They will then compete at the WWPA Championship Tournament at Santa Clara Nov. 18-20.
 
Brent Teraoka scored four goals, with three coming on five-meter penalty shots against Air Force on Friday. Jonathan Lotero finished with a hat trick and two steals, and Tanner Shore logged three assists and five steals. Joseph Moorman compiled 16 saves and a takeaway in the cage.
 
"There was no one person, it was a solid team effort today," Rosa said.
 
Adversity wise, CBU had to overcome a 2-0 deficit right out of the gate.
 
"It's nothing we haven't experienced before," Shore said. "We just keep fighting and don't give up, we have learned that throughout this season – just keep pushing."
 
If that wasn't enough, CBU then had three of its top players: Elad Gunya, Teddy Forte and Dominick Nevarez charged with two exclusions before halftime. All three avoided picking up their third and final ejection in the game and contributed in big ways down the stretch.
 
"You just have to go out there and play," Rosa said of the foul trouble. "The best thing about the first half is we were able to get a lot of subs in and get the guys some rest. They were fresh and ready when we needed them in the second half and we made a run. It was just next man up."
 
When Air Force came out and scored the first two goals of the game, the Lancers countered with three-straight scores to end the first quarter ahead 3-2. Forte and Logan Mena scored CBU's first two goals with 4:46 and 3:40 to play in the frame, and then Mena drew a five-meter penalty with 2:30 left and Brent Teraoka converted it.
 
The Falcons would retake leads at 4-3 and 5-4, but the Lancers went back up for good, thanks to the play of Lotero. The junior two-meter scored two-straight CBU goals to put his team in front 13 seconds before halftime, 7-6.
 
Lotero then helped CBU create some cushion in the third quarter, as he drew a penalty shot less than two minutes into the period and Teraoka cashed it in. Less than a minute later, Lotero scored to give the Lancers their first multi-goal lead, 9-6, with 5:21 left in the third.
 
"Air Force is a really fast team, but with Coach's subbing patterns, he is getting guys in and out so we were fresh all the way through," Shore said. "He knows we have the depth to go all four quarters, so credit to him on that."
 
Gunya snuck a shot past the goalkeeper to give CBU the first goal of the fourth quarter and keep the Lancers in front by three, 10-7, with 7:44 remaining in regulation.
 
Air Force managed to climb back within two goals a few times late and trailed 11-9 with 3:28 to play. The visitors had two possessions to pull closer, but CBU came up with the stops.
 
"We adjusted to them in the second half and kept them in check," Rosa said. "We preached depth all week. Our first guy, our second guy and third guy will be pretty even with theirs, but our ninth, 10^th and 11^th guys are better than their ninth, 10^th and 11^th guys. It may not show up in the first quarter, but the third and fourth quarters are when our guys make plays."
 
The dagger sequence came when Gunya forced a steal and then an exclusion in transition led to a Teraoka goal seven seconds later on an assist from Shore. It gave CBU a 12-9 lead with 1:51 to go on the clock. A steal from Nevarez and save from Moorman in the waning seconds ensured the Falcons would come no closer than 12-10.
 
"A game like this gives us confidence, we know we can play with anybody, but everyone in conference is going to be tough," Shore said. "This is a good preparation for conference championships."

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