CBU Sweeps Doubleheader at Inland Empire Classic

Saturday, September 10

Redlands, Calif.

9 AM

California Baptist University

Whittier

Photo by: Zac Zeman zaczeman.com

CBU Sweeps Doubleheader at Inland Empire Classic

9/10/2022 6:03:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

REDLANDS – California Baptist University men's water polo made its 2022 California debut at the Inland Empire Classic at the University of Redlands on Saturday.

The 16^th-ranked Lancers came back home with two dominant wins over Whittier and Occidental, the No. 4 and 10 ranked teams in NCAA Division III. CBU defeated the Poets in the morning by a score of 21-10 and then knocked off the Tigers, 16-8, at the University of Redlands' Thompson Aquatic Center.

It was a balanced attack for California Baptist on Saturday. Joseph Griffin led the way with a team-high eight points and seven goals after he notched his second five-goal game of the season and kept his seven-game scoring streak alive and well.

🔥🔥🔥

Joseph Griffin has scored in all 7️⃣ games this season, and just notched his second 5️⃣ goal game of the campaign. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/EbiY1Xj7Xl
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) September 11, 2022

Caleb Teraoka (five goals), Ian Escoto (four assists), Angel Sanchez (five assists) and Thomas de Wit (six assists) all had at least six points. Cameron Cullen and Matt Olsen each had four goals on the day.
The Lancers improve to 5-2 on the season, while Occidental and Whittier drop to 0-3 and 1-4 on the young campaign so far. CBU will play two more games at the Inland Empire Classic against Chapman and host Redlands on Sunday, Sept. 11 at noon and 5 p.m., respectively.

Two-meter play from Griffin and Olsen was key to CBU's win over Occidental on Saturday afternoon. The duo combined for eight goals in the eight-goal victory, with Griffin powering home five and Olsen tallying his second hat trick of the year.

🎩 𝙃𝘼𝙏 𝙏𝙍𝙄𝘾𝙆 🎩

For the second time this season, Matt Olsen has himself a hat trick. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/7E6OXv1ebs
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) September 11, 2022

Nevertheless, it was a tightly contested game in the first half as CBU held a 9-7 lead at halftime. The Lancers ended the game on a 7-1 run, thanks in large part to Trevor Benge. He provided a spark off the bench, as the goalie notched seven saves and allowed just one goal over the final 16 minutes of play.

WHAT A SEQUENCE 👏👏👏

Trevor Benge with the save on a breakaway, and Joseph Griffin powers home the goal on the other end.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/wc0A5IUloQ
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) September 11, 2022

Juniors Cullen and Teraoka both scored hat tricks in CBU's win over Whittier. The Lancers jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Escoto, Griffin, Jacob Sill and Marcus Lodewyk all added two goals of their own.

🎩 𝙃𝘼𝙏 𝙏𝙍𝙄𝘾𝙆 🎩

Cameron Cullen scores three goals in the first quarter. #LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/UHP0CzmUG6
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) September 10, 2022

Sanchez also had five assists, while de Wit added three. Sill did a bit of everything with two goals, two assists, three steals and a drawn ejection. Lodewyk finished with two assists and a steal, as well.

Caleb Teraoka's got moves like a center 💪#LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/gy8COo3uib
— California Baptist Men's Water Polo (@LancerWaterPolo) September 10, 2022

UP NEXT
The Lancers will face their toughest test of the season, with four games against top-10 ranked competition next week. They will head up north and open Western Water Polo Association play as they take on sixth-ranked UC Davis – the reigning champion and preseason favorite in the WWPA – on Friday, Sept. 16, at noon. CBU will stay in Davis for three more games in the Aggie Roundup, with a matchup against second-ranked UCLA on Friday, Sept. 16, and a doubleheader versus No. 10 San Jose State and No. 5 Pacific on Saturday, Sept. 17.