By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications
Box Score RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University men's water polo made its long-awaited home opener, with a Western Water Polo Association game versus ninth-ranked UC Davis on Thursday night.
The Aggies took home the win on a score of 17-9 to improve to 9-5 and 1-0 in the WWPA this season. The Lancers move to 9-9, 1-1 in conference despite a team-high two goals from
Cameron Cullen and some historic performances from
Zach Lowery and
PJ McDonough.
CBU was balanced on offense, with eight players scoring the game: Cullen, McDonough, Lowery,
Matt Olsen,
Caleb Teraoka,
Hunter Barnett,
Joseph Griffin and
Riley Bumgardner. Lowery, McDonough, Barnett and Bumgardner all had a goal, assist and steal in the game.
McDonough's goal 22 seconds into the fourth quarter extended his scoring streak, as he's now scored in all 18 games this year.
Lowery finished with a goal, two assists and a steal in in the game. It made him the owner for two CBU career records, games with a goal, assist and steal (51) and multi-assist games (56). Tanner Shore (2015-18) previously held the record for games with a goal, assist and steal and Chris Morgan (2005-08) had the multi-assist mark.
The Lancers play four more games this week – all at home – as part of the Lancer Joust. On Friday, CBU will face Westcliff and Fresno Pacific at 1 p.m. and 5:20 p.m., respectively. The week comes to a close Saturday with games against eighth-ranked Pepperdine and Crafton Hills at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively.
ON THE RECORD
Lowery is on the verge of setting another CBU record. The 2020-21 All-WWPA First Teamer also ranks second in CBU history with 177 career assists -- 10 off the all-time record currently held by Morgan (187). Lowery also ranks sixth in career steals (142), fourth in multi-steal games (38) and 19th in career goals (138) and multi-goal games (35).
ON A RUN
McDonough's goal streak this season is two off a top-10 streak in CBU history. His scoring streak actually goes back to 33 games overall, as he scored in all 12 games in the 2020-21 campaign and the final three games of 2019. McDonough earned All-WWPA First Team honors and NCAA Division I Second Team distinction last season, which made him the first Lancer to earn First or Second Team All-American status in Division I.
A LOOK AT THE AGGIES
UC Davis has been a WWPA power over the last decade plus. The Aggies are routinely ranked in the top 10 in the country and have won three WWPA Championship titles in the last five years, even while sitting out the 2020 season. UCD has advanced to the last four WWPA Championship games in which they competed.
