California Baptist University
Princeton University
CBU Splits Day Two of the Wildcat Invite
2/7/2026 4:30:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
VILLANOVA, PA--- The California Baptist University women's water polo team split day two of the Wildcat Invite on Saturday as they lost to #13 Princeton in the early match and defeated #22 Wagner in a thriller in the later match.
The split brings CBU to 2-1 at the Wildcat Invite after defeating the host Villanova yesterday evening, and brings them to an overall record of 7-3.
GAME 1 vs #13 Princeton:
The defenses of both teams shone early, making phenomenal stops on the opposing offense. Princeton would strike first two and a half minutes into the match and would net three in succession following the score. CBU would capitalize on Tiger penalties, scoring on a five-meter and a power play to keep themselves in the game. In the second period, CBU's high-powered offense got going, scoring four times against the stingy Princeton defense. The Tigers' offense was limited early, but scored off some Lancer mistakes late and led 9-6 at the half.
CBU came out in the second half with a goal on the opening possession as Emmie Ramirez would convert a penalty shot to trim the lead down to two goals. The Lancer defense played outstanding in the frame, allowing just two goals through seven minutes of action, but a deep shot from Princeton in the final minute would keep the lead at three as the quarter ended.
Princeton would extend its lead early in the fourth period, netting three goals to put the game seemingly out of reach for the Lancers. CBU would not fold and would attempt a comeback, scoring a quick goal on a powerplay from Morgan Gates. The Lancers would score on back-to-back possessions late in the game to cut the lead down to two, but a late Princeton goal would secure the victory for the Tigers by a final score of 14-12.
Ramirez and Morgan Gates would lead the charge for the Lancers' offense, combining for nine of the team's 12 goals. Ramirez would have five, while Gates would have one of the best games of her career, scoring four goals for CBU. Devyn Ruffer would also score multiple goals with two, and Niya Bumbaca would account for the final goal on the scoresheet for the Lancers.
GAME 2 vs #22 Wagner:
The Lancers snatched early momentum in this game, putting four goals past the Seahawks in the opening four minutes of play, compared to just one for the Seahawks. Three of those opening goals came from Emmie Ramirez as she would collect a hat trick in less than five minutes. Wagner would score a late goal that would ignite a 4-0 run that continued into the second quarter, which gave the Seahawks a brief lead. CBU would score twice in the final 90 seconds of the half, including one from Niya Bumbaca off a powerplay that would give CBU the 7-6 lead after 16 minutes.
The game continued to go back and forth into the second half as Wagner would outscore the Lancers by one goal in the third period to tie the match at ten goals apiece heading into the fourth period. The back-and-forth affair continued into the fourth period as neither team would cede control of the match. The Lancers would take the lead with 4:17 to go off a penalty goal by Ramirez, but Wagner would follow that up to tie the game at 13 apiece. CBU would score the go-ahead goal at 3:41 to force a Wagner timeout. CBU's defense would come up clutch down the stretch, collecting two critical steals and a Tyanna Schneider save with nine seconds, which would seal the match 14-13 in favor of CBU.
Ramirez would once again lead the CBU offensive attack with five goals to make it ten goals on the day for the Cal transfer. Bumbaca scored both of her goals in the fourth period, while Reese Beringer was the other goal scorer with multiple conversions.
NEXT: The Lancers will return to the West Coast to open up GCC play on Saturday, February 14, at home against San Diego State.
