California Baptist University
Wagner College
Lancers Split Day One of the Bruno Classic in Providence
8/28/2026 4:53:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
PROVIDENCE, RI--- The California Baptist University men's water polo team split opening day of the 2026 Bruno Classic on Friday, as they would dominate Wagner in the opener and drop the matinee to the host team Brown.
G1 VS WAGNER:
The Lancers came out on fire as they would quickly build an 8-0 advantage out of the gates. Wagner would finally break up the scoring at the 4:29 mark in the second period, but CBU would still hold a commanding 14-3 lead at the halftime break.
The Seahawks would make a little run in the third period as their defense held up much better against the Lancer attack. Wagner would trim the lead to eight goals midway through the third period, but the Lancers went back on the attack and got a much-needed goal from Alessandro Tiberio and a penalty goal from Andrea Nuzzo to take the lead back up to 11 as the third period closed. Michael Abshier would net the Lancer's 20th goal early in the fourth period as CBU cruised to the 21-8 victory over the Seahawks.
CBU got all-around great performances, including a hat trick from Whitley Beamon, Tiberio, and Rafa Martinez. Andrea Nuzzo was solid as always with a pair of penalty shots and led the way with a game-high five assists. The combination of Tanner McCreary and Tyler Carson in goal for the Lancers combined for seven saves and allowed just eight goals from the Seahawks.
G2 VS #20 BROWN:
The Brown Bears came out strong, looking to defend their home pool as they scored two quick goals off the Lancers' exclusions. CBU would get on the board a few moments later via the left arm of Andrea Nuzzo, who cashed in on a penalty shot. The Lancers would put the heat on Brown to conclude the first period as they would score three of the next four goals, including a perfectly set-up shot by Sawyer McCormick to take CBU's first lead at 4-3 after the opening eight minutes.
Andrea Nuzzo scored both the Lancer goals in the second period to earn a first-half hat trick for the reigning Third-Team All-American. Brown would tack on a trio of more goals over the next few minutes as the Lancers and Bears went into halftime tied at six goals apiece.
CBU came out swingin' in the second half, scoring twice in as many possessions off perfectly thrown dimes from Nuzzo to make it a one-goal lead for the Lancers early in the third period. The Lancers would expand their lead to three, which was the most by any team up to that point. CBU would lead 12-10 after three periods.
Brown would score three unanswered goals at the outset of the fourth period to knot the match at 13 with 3:39 remaining. Nuzzo would retake the Lancer lead one minute later, but the Bears would find the back of the net twice in the waning seconds of the match to claim the victory in their home pool 16-14.
Nuzzo put together another spectacular performance despite the loss with five goals and four assists.
NEXT: The Lancers will head to Cambridge, Massachusetts, for day two of the Bruno Classic to take on #17 Harvard and MIT to conclude opening weekend.
