Battle Back Falls Short With Broncos

Thursday, October 19

Santa Clara, Calif.

3:00 PM

California Baptist University

Santa Clara

Photo by: Matt Ressler

Battle Back Falls Short With Broncos

10/19/2017 4:49:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Despite facing a three-goal deficit less than three minutes in, California Baptist University battled back on the road to create a dramatic back-and-forth contest that featured six ties and three lead changes.

Unfortunately for the Lancers, it did not end in their favor as Santa Clara pulled out the 14-12 Western Water Polo Association win on Thursday at the Sullivan Aquatic Center. CBU drops to 16-10, 1-3 in conference and the Broncos improve to 5-8, 1-2.

It does not get any easier for CBU, which will take on 19^th-ranked Brown during Santa Clara's Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament on Friday at 2:20 p.m. The Lancers will face No. 11 San Jose State and 16^th-ranked Bucknell on Saturday at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday.

Dominick Nevarez scored what tied for a game-high three goals and assisted on another in the loss, while Christian Britton notched three of CBU's 10 assists. Jonny Lotero also scored twice and drew two ejections. Joseph Galgani also tallied a goal, assist, drew two ejections and forced two turnovers. Tanner Shore and Ryan Sargis each notched a goal and assist.

Santa Clara started out on a 3-0 run two minutes, 42 seconds into the game. Nevarez and Galgani kick started the Lancers' offense to end the first quarter with CBU down 3-2. Lotero tied the score at 3-3 just 28 seconds into the second quarter, but the Broncos countered to retake the lead, 4-3.

Goals from Matt Diacono and Nevarez gave CBU its first lead of the game, 5-4, with 4:15 left in the first half. The Lancers ran their lead to 8-6 on consecutive scores from Nevarez and Logan Mena. Caleb Rogers kept it a two-goal lead, 9-7, with 5:31 left in the third quarter, but SCU ended the quarter on a 3-0 charge to jump back in front, 10-9.

Lotero evened things back up at 10-10 about a minute into the fourth quarter, but another 3-0 run helped Santa Clara separate for good.

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