Lancers Come Up Golden Over CUI

Thursday, November 2

Irvine, Calif.

1:30 PM

California Baptist University

Concordia (Calif.)

Photo by: Andrew Shortall

Lancers Come Up Golden Over CUI

11/2/2017 6:33:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

IRVINE, Calif. – For the fourth time this season, Tanner Shore came up big in the clutch and scored the golden goal in California Baptist University's dramatic 12-11, sudden-death overtime victory over Concordia University of Irvine in its Western Water Polo Association regular-season finale Thursday.

It secured the Lancers' highest-ever seed for the WWPA Championship at No. 3, with a 20-12, 4-3 in conference record. CBU is the first WWPA team to finish the regular season, which leaves the rest of the conference seedings undetermined, but UC Davis (18-5) and UC San Diego (9-11) will occupy the top-two spots, with identical 6-0 conference records at the moment. The fourth through eighth spots still up for grabs between Concordia (9-10, 3-3); Loyola Marymount (6-17, 2-4); Santa Clara (7-12, 1-4); Air Force (5-13, 1-4) and Fresno Pacific (5-15, 0-5).

The Lancers have a chance to rest for more than two weeks before the WWPA Championships, which will be held at UC San Diego Nov. 17-19. CBU's game times and opposition are yet to be determined.

Gabe Thorne came up big in the cage for CBU on Thursday, allowing just 11 goals in 41 minutes of play. The freshman goalie blocked 17 shots overall to keep the Lancers in front in the end. It ties for the 13^th most blocks in the Lancers' single-game record books.

A total of six points came from Shore in the victory, as he netted a hat trick, assisted on three other goals and also tallied three steals in the win. Senior Thomas Henline maintained his high level of play, with two goals, an assist and three steals, while Kyle Christian added three assists and a goal. Dominick Nevarez also scored twice in the win, while Caleb Rogers had three assists.

Shore has been no stranger to game-winning goals this season, as the junior utility provided the difference in the waning minutes of a 10-9 win over the Eagles back at CBU on Sept. 20^th. Shore scored a last-second goal in a 15-14 win over No. 16 Bucknell on Oct. 21^st and also contributed an overtime goal to CBU's 15-14 win at Air Force last week.

Concordia held an 8-7 lead with 4:31 to play in regulation, but CBU fought back to force a 10-10 tie and then overtime after fourth-quarter goals from Henline, Nevarez and Joseph Galgani. Jonny Lotero scored first in overtime, but the Eagles tied things up with 27 seconds left in the first overtime period.

Both defenses locked in and blanked the opposition in the second overtime, which forced a sudden-death session. Shore broke through after a save off a Nevarez shot to end the game with the golden goal.

BOX SCORE