California Baptist University
1-5
UC San Diego
6-2
The Lancers Fall in Two Close Matches on Day 2 of the Triton Invitational
2/3/2024 8:37:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
LA JOLLA--- The California Baptist University women's water polo team competed in two close matches on day two of the Triton Invitational in La Jolla. CBU opened with a 13-9 loss to #9 UC San Diego and lost a heartbreaking 11-10 match in overtime in the matinee to Concordia Irvine.
The losses drop the Lancers to 1-6 on the season, with all but one of the losses coming to ranked opponents.
GAME 1 vs. UCSD:
The Lancers began the day with a tilt against the host of the Triton Invitational, UC San Diego. The Tritons came into the match #9 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association poll and had bested the Lancers earlier in the season 14-8 at The Joust Tournament in Riverside.
The Tritons rattled off the first three goals of the opening period before a Niya Bumbaca score ended the early drought. The score was the freshman's third of the season. The Lancers held tough in the second period after allowing two quick Triton goals in the first two minutes. CBU would hold CUSD scoreless through the remainder of the period and racked up two goals of their own to keep the score close at 5-3 heading into halftime.
The Tritons began to run away with the match in the third period, outscoring the Lancers 4-2 in that frame. CBU would fight back in the opening minutes of the fourth period with a pair of goals from Celeste Almendariza and one from Devyn Ruffer to keep the game close. The Tritons held off the comeback with four goals of their own in the final period and would defend their home pool 13-9.
Almendariz recorded her first hat trick of the season with three goals on three shots and added an assist for four points in the game. Kyra Kahahawai continued her strong start to the season with two more goals in the match and dished out three assists to tie her for the match-high with five points. In goal, Tyanna Schneider recorded six saves and two steals while logging all 32 minutes for the Lancers.
GAME 2 vs. Concordia Irvine:
CBU started strong in the first period against the Eagles, netting four goals against just one for Concordia. Cayleigh Carter, Devyn Ruffer, Grace Bergquist, and Madison Haworth all found the back of the net in the opening eight minutes to give CBU the 4-1 lead. Haworth and Morgan Gates each added a goal to the Lancer's total in the second period to give CBU a 5-2 lead heading into the break.
The second half was dominated by the Eagles, scoring seven goals over those 16 minutes compared to two for the Lancers to force the game into overtime tied at nine apiece. In the overtime frame, the Eagles netted the first two goals before Almendariz converted a critical goal to bring the score to 10-11 with two minutes remaining. The Eagles managed to hold the Lancers scoreless over the final few possessions and walked away with the victory.
Gates and Haworth each had multiple goals in the contest, while five other Lancers scored one goal.
NEXT: The Lancers will finish the Triton Invitational tomorrow with an 8 AM match against #22 San Diego State.
Team Stats
Kendall Thomas
6:24
Lucia Doak
4:02
Sofia Munatones
1:35
Niya Bumbaca
1:01
Caroline Christl
7:00
Caroline Christl
5:14
Celeste Almendariz
2:00
Kyra Kahahawai
1:15
Caroline Christl
6:13
Courtney Okumura
5:41
Kyra Kahahawai
3:38
Sydney Munatones
3:13
Morgan Gates
1:03
Kendall Thomas
0:02
Cascade Stensland
7:31
Devyn Ruffer
6:52
Courtney Okumura
6:05
Celeste Almendariz
5:39
Kendall Thomas
5:13
Celeste Almendariz
4:39
Lauren Bellavia
3:36
Grace Bergquist
0:20
