CBU Down Waves for First Time in Program History, Clinch WCC Tournament Championship
11/18/2023 6:05:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
MALIBU--- The California Baptist University men's water polo team faced the #5 Pepperdine Waves on Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the West Coast Conference tournament and emerged victorious in a 20-13 dominating victory. The Lancers improved to 20-17 on the season and will now face San Jose State on Sunday afternoon in the WCC Tournament championship.
The Lancers jumped to a hot start against the Waves, as Bodhi Bowden found the back of the net for the first goal of the afternoon. CBU put up six goals in the first quarter, two courtesy of Caleb Teraoka, for a two-point lead heading into the second quarter. Kevin Rosa's squad continued to pile on the goals against the Waves, tallying five against Pepperdine's keeper for an 11-7 lead heading into halftime.
The Waves came back with a vengeance in the third quarter and matched CBU 3-3 in goals, but the Lancers continued to hold on to their four-point lead. Cameron Cullen opened the fourth quarter with a stunning goal against the Waves and spurred the Lancer's momentum on as CBU began to pull away. Back-to-back goals from Logan Puhl and Toring Stanley pushed Rosa's squad to a 17-11 advantage and another goal from Ian Escoto was the proverbial nail in the coffin for the Waves with just two minutes left in the quarter. As a whole, the Waves outshot the Lancers 40-35 but Trevor Benge came up big for CBU with 15 saves between the posts. Toring totaled a season high four goals, while Puhl found his seventh hat trick of the season against Pepperdine.
LOGAN. PUHL. HAT. TRICK.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/YenvTJGF6m
— CBU Men's Water Polo (@lancersmwp) November 18, 2023
It was a day of firsts for CBU, as this is the first time in program history the Lancers have ever beaten the Waves and it will be the first time for California Baptist to compete in the WCC tournament championship.
The Lancers are set to face familiar foe San Jose State at 1 p.m. for an opportunity to play in the NCAA Men's Water Polo National Tournament.
