Seniors Close Out Home Careers

Saturday, April 21

Riverside, Calif.

12:00 PM

California Baptist University

Fresno State

Photo by: Conner Schuh

Seniors Close Out Home Careers

4/21/2018 1:59:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

BOX SCORE

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Five seniors played their final home game for California Baptist University in the Lancers' final regular-season game versus Fresno State on Saturday.

The 22^nd-ranked Lancers of the NCAA (Divisions I-III) took a four-goal lead at halftime, but the Bulldogs pulled off a stunning comeback for a 6-5 Golden Coast Conference win at the Lancer Aquatics Center.

It creates a three-way tie for fourth place in the GCC standings, with CBU, Fresno State and Azusa Pacific all sporting 3-4 conference records. The Lancers move to 15-16 overall this season and will wait to see who their first-round opponent is at the GCC Championships Friday at Loyola Marymount, as they could slide in anywhere from the fourth to sixth seed -- based on the conference tiebreaker. Fresno State will take a 6-16 overall record into next week.

All five seniors: Annie Eubanks, Jaclyn Myers, Allie Coleman, Amy Bideshi and Jocelyn Schwegler got the start on Saturday. Eubanks drew five ejections, forced two steals and scored, while Myers also scored and had a steal on her Senior Day. Coleman notched an assist and two steals, while Schwegler and Bideshi provided great defense for the Lancers.

Grace Ramirez had another great game with 11 saves and a steal in the cage. Lizette Perez notched a goal, assist, drawn ejection and steal, while Amy Branch and Vickie Ochoa also scored to give the Lancers five different scorers.

Two key players picking up three ejections and a bevy of bar-out shots plagued the Lancers in the second half. After CBU's offense looked unstoppable in the first half, it was just inches off with six shots going off posts over the last 16 minutes.

It was a defensive game from the beginning, with both teams being held scoreless for about the first five minutes. The Lancers broke through and took a 1-0 lead when Branch scored on a power play off a Perez pass.

Eubanks made it a 2-0 lead when she got an inside position and then lobbed a shot into the cage 1:35 into the second quarter. Fresno State's first goal 10 minutes into the game was countered by a beautiful off-speed shot from Myers to keep CBU in front by two, 3-1.

The Lancers continued to attack and drew an ejection in transition, which led to a timeout from Coach Jonathan Miller. CBU executed the ensuing play to perfection, with Perez dishing to Ochoa for the six-on-five goal and a 4-1 edge with 3:10 left in the first half. Perez then got on the board with a five-meter penalty shot goal that was drawn by Eubanks.

Fresno State did not give up hope and kept pushing to finish the game on a 5-0 run and grab the one-goal win. The Lancers and Bulldogs may meet again next week at the GCC Championships, with CBU looking for a bit of revenge.