CBU Ends First Weekend of 2021 with an Impressive Doubleheader at Triton Invite

Sunday, September 5

La Jolla, Calif.

9:50 AM

California Baptist University

0-3

UCLA

3-0

California Baptist

UCLA

Photo by: Andrew Shortall

CBU Ends First Weekend of 2021 with an Impressive Doubleheader at Triton Invite

9/5/2021 7:33:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

LA JOLLA — California Baptist University put together another strong day at the Triton Invite to cap off the first weekend of the season on Sunday at UC San Diego.

The 14th-ranked Lancers put together their best-ever showing against UCLA, the top-ranked team in the NCAA and defending national champions, in a 10-8 loss to open the day. CBU then secured its first win of the year with a 17-10 victory over Whittier, which is receiving votes in the NCAA Top 20 poll.

CBU puts up a strong performance against the top-ranked UCLA Bruins. Hunter Barnett went off for four goals, while PJ McDonough had a hat trick of his own.

It's the closest game and fewest goals the Lancers have ever given up to UCLA in the 12-game series.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/lVQmSbDmUj
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) September 5, 2021

PJ McDonough finished with seven goals on the day, while Hunter Barnett scored six and had nine points overall with four assists. Zach Lowery also had five assists in both games. Goalie Tristan Felberg finished with 20 saves on Sunday, as well.

Too hot to handle from PJ McDonough
😬 #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/wXQNkGvODI
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) September 5, 2021

It gives California Baptist a 1-3 record going into week two, while UCLA is 4-0 and Whittier starts out 0-4. The Lancers will head to the Princeton Tournament next week for four games against Wagner and host Princeton on Friday Sept. 10 and Bucknell and Fordham on Saturday. Sept. 11.

Barnett and McDonough both started their day with hat tricks against UCLA. Barnett scored a team-high four goals and an assist, while McDonough had three goals of his own. Felberg was also tremendous in the cage with nine saves, including one on a five-meter penalty shot.

Hunter Barnett lets it fly from deep 🚀 #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/9jVwNKiI9I
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) September 5, 2021

CBU took down Whittier with two 5-1 runs, one to open the game and another to begin the second half. The Lancers scored six of the first seven goals in the first 10-and-a-half minutes of the game, but the Poets came back to tie the score at 6-6 going into halftime.

Caleb Teraoka goes bar ⬇️#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/wv2Nck9nn9
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) September 5, 2021

There was no panic, as CBU started the second half on another 5-1 run. McDonough finished with four goals in the game, while Caleb Teraoka, Simon Taylor, Barnett and Joseph Starr scored two each.