CBU Opens Season with Pair of Top-10 Tests at Triton Invite

Saturday, September 4

La Jolla, Calif.

8:30 AM

California Baptist University

0-1

Pepperdine

1-0

California Baptist

Pepperdine

Photo by: Rachel Sollazzo

CBU Opens Season with Pair of Top-10 Tests at Triton Invite

9/4/2021 6:11:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Alexa Melara, Athletics Communications Intern

LA JOLLA – California Baptist University men's water polo started off its season with a pair of top-10 battles with fifth-ranked Pepperdine and No. 8 Long Beach State at UC San Diego's Triton Invite on Saturday.

The 14th-ranked Lancers came up short in both games, but were close to the program's first-ever, top-five win in a 12-10 loss to the Waves. CBU ended the day with a 16-7 loss to the Beach.

CBU battles #⃣5⃣ Pepperdine but the 14th-ranked Lancers come up just short of the upset at the Triton Invite. Hunter Barnett led CBU with a hat trick in the season opener. #LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/d6CalC07Gw
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) September 4, 2021

Junior goalie Tristan Felberg started his season with 17 saves, four steals and an assist over both games. Hunter Barnett had a team-high four goals on the day and Angel Sanchez had five points on three goals and two assists to lead the offense.

The Lancers came out strong in their season opener versus Pepperdine. They jumped out to a 3-2 lead about two minutes into the second quarter after Barnett, Joseph Griffin and Ian Escoto started the scoring for CBU.

The Waves fought back to take a three-goal lead on a number of occasions, including a 9-6 advantage with 27 seconds left in the third quarter. CBU made it a one-goal game (10-9), with 2:37 left in regulation, on the heels of 3-1 run thanks to a pair of goals from Barnett and another from Cameron Cullen.

Pepperdine scored the next two goals to hold off the Lancers' comeback. Barnett finished with a hat trick in the loss, while Zach Lowery drew three ejections, had two assists, a field block and won a sprint in the contest. McDonough also had two assists, two drawn ejections, a goal and a steal in the game.

Day ☝️ of 2021 is in the 📚 #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/N0f0V8q3kn
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) September 4, 2021

Felberg played big in Saturday's finale with Long Beach State, as he posted 13 saves, two steals and an assist in three quarters. Sanchez led the offense with two goals and two assists and Barnett stayed hot with two assists, a goal and drawn ejection. Cullen put up a goal, assist and drawn ejection in both games on the day.

After day one, the Lancers' record is 0-2, while Long Beach State is 2-0 and Pepperdine starts out 1-1. CBU will play two more games at the Triton Invite, as it faces top-ranked and defending national champion UCLA at 9:50 a.m. and Whittier at 4 p.m. on Sunday.