California Baptist University
20-5, 1-0
UC Irvine
15-5, 1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 12 |
| California Baptist | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
CBU Drops Big West Showdowon to #6 UCI in Riverside
10/17/2026 1:43:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's water polo dropped its first conference game on Saturday afternoon as the #6 UC Irvine Anteaters pulled away in the second half to defeat them 12-9 at the Lancer Aquatics Center.
The loss is just the second of the season at home for the Lancers as they fall to 20-6 overall and 1-1 in the Big West. UCI improves to 2-0 in Big West action and 16-5 overall.
The Lancers struck first in the match as Michael Abshier would find the back of the net, followed by a penalty goal from Andrea Nuzzo to make it 2-0 CBU in front of a sizable Lancer crowd. UCI would even the score with two goals of their own on the next two possessions, but that would be followed by three straight Lancer goals to give CBU a 5-2 lead in the first period. Two of those goals were scored from the middle by Rafa Martinez, and the other came off a powerplay by Paulo Hernandez. UCI would gather a little momentum heading into the second as they would cash in with 51 seconds to make it 5-3 Lancers after eight.
UCI dominated the second period as they would outscore CBU 4-1, with the lone CBU goal coming from Whitley Beamon. The Anteaters would score four straight to end the period and begin the third, leading 7-6 at halftime. Abshier would score on back-to-back possessions toward the end of the third period as the Lancers would tie up the Anteaters at 8 apiece heading to the fourth period. Exclusions and penalties cost CBU in the fourth period, as the Anteaters ultimately pulled away, outscoring CBU 4-1 in the frame and winning 12-9.
Abshier put up one of his best performances this season despite the loss, scoring a hat trick and dishing out two assists to lead CBU with five points. Martinez and Beamon would be the other two Lancers with multiple goals, while Nuzzo would score three points with a goal and two assists.
NEXT: The Lancers will hit the road next week as conference play continues with a matchup with Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, October 22, at 6 PM.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Michael Abshier
7:26
Andrea Nuzzo
5:43
Alex Lopez
5:14
Cole Francisco
4:15
Paulo Hernandez
2:32
Rafa Martinez
1:58
Rafa Martinez
1:16
Johann Thrall
0:51
Cole Francisco
6:28
Whitley Beamon
6:00
Keegan McGann
5:30
Brody Luke
1:19
Gage Verdegaal
0:31
Johann Thrall
7:07
Michael Abshier
1:43
Michael Abshier
1:10
Wyley Dale
7:07
Brody Luke
4:42
Whitley Beamon
3:15
Alex Lopez
2:48
Alex Lopez
0:15
