Lancers Match Program Record with Fifth WWPA Win of the Season Against Concordia

Thursday, November 4

Riverside, Calif.

6 PM

California Baptist University

17-13, 5-2WWPA

Concordia

7-14, 1-6WWPA

Concordia

California Baptist

Photo by: Zac Zeman zaczeman.com

Lancers Match Program Record with Fifth WWPA Win of the Season Against Concordia

11/4/2021 8:19:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University men's water polo rattled off its fourth-straight victory with a 22-8 Western Water Polo Association win over Concordia on Thursday night at the Lancer Aquatics Center.

Hunter Barnett went off for his second six-goal game in as many weeks and fourth of his career, while Joseph Griffin (four goals) and Cameron Cullen (three goals, two assists, two steals) all had hat tricks, as well, for CBU. It moves the 18^th-ranked Lancers' record to 17-13 this season and 5-2 in the WWPA. Concordia drops to 7-14 and 1-6 on the year.

Hunter Barnett wasn't done, he's scored another 🎩 trick in the third quarter alone and has another six-goal game with eight minutes to play. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/q3zGhnI2hO
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) November 5, 2021

The Lancers' five WWPA wins are tied for the program's single-season record. They are also in pursuit of their best ever seed for the conference tournament.

CBU opened Thursday night's game versus the Eagles on a 9-0 run in the first 13-and-a-half minutes. Barnett scored a first-half hat trick, while Griffin added two first-quarter goals.

Joseph Griffin muscles in his 🎩 trick goal early in the third quarter.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Rqq9acaA94
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) November 5, 2021

The Eagles managed to cut their deficit down to five, 11-6, with three minutes left in the third quarter but the Lancers poured on seven-straight goals for an 18-6 lead with 6:37 to play. Barnett scored two more goals in that run, along with Cullen.

Cameron Cullen is heating up 🥵

He's scored three goals in 70 seconds in the fourth quarter. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/6GzzoeJSQC
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) November 5, 2021

Ian Escoto finished with a game-high four assists in the win. Matt Olsen (two drawn ejections) and Zach Zetz (assist, steal) both scored twice in the win, as well. CBU rotated in three goalies on the night. Tristan Felberg had eight saves on a 72.7 percentage (8-11) in the first half, while Trevor Benge (four saves, steal) and Cabot Ferguson (three saves) each played a quarter.

A LOOK AT THE WWPA STANDINGS
Thursday night saw a four-way tie for second place created in the WWPA regular-season standings, with CBU, Air Force, UC San Diego and Loyola Marymount all evened up at 5-2 in conference. UC Davis locked up the top seed for the upcoming WWPA Championships at its home pool Nov. 19-21 with a 7-0 league record.

Saturday is the final day of the WWPA season, with CBU hosting 19^th ranked Air Force at noon, while UC Davis hosts UC San Diego and Santa Clara welcomes in Loyola Marymount. All three games are pivotal for conference seeding.

Wins from the Lancers and Aggies would secure CBU the second seed for the WWPA Championships, even if LMU wins since the Lancers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. If more than two teams are tied for second after Saturday, seeds will be determined by a conference tiebreaker.

CBU's best-ever seed for a full WWPA Championships was fourth, which happened three times in 2016, 2018 and 2019. The Lancers were seeded third coming into 2021 in the WWPA Preseason Poll.

Saturday's game against Air Force will be Senior Day for five Lancer seniors: PJ McDonough, Barnett, Jacob Olsen, Riley Bumgardner and Zach Lowery.