CBU Battles Hard in Close Loss to #4 Fordham

Monday, September 28

Riverside, Calif.

11 AM

California Baptist University

15-3, 0-0

Fordham University

10-1, 0-0

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Fordham	1	2	3	4	10
California Baptist	1	1	2	2	6

CBU Battles Hard in Close Loss to #4 Fordham

9/28/2026 1:07:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Ryley Collom, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications & Digital Media

RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's water polo team had one of its biggest tests of the season on Monday morning as it hosted #4 Fordham for a non-conference battle at the Lancer Aquatics Center.

The Lancers battled admirably against the highly ranked Rams, but they would ultimately fall 10-6 in a hard-fought contest. The loss is the first of the year at home for CBU and is one of three losses against top-8 opponents this season. Fordham improves to 11-1 and picks up its seventh-ranked win of the season.

The Lancers struck first with Paulo Hernandez finding the back of the net off a powerplay opportunity. The Lancer defense was highly impressive early on, with multiple forced turnovers on the Rams and Tanner McCreary making several stops in between the posts. Fordham drew a penalty early on that was denied by McCreary to keep the Rams scoreless through five minutes of action. Fordham would get on the scoreboard on the next possession to tie the match at one apiece after eight minutes of action in the pool.

CBU's defense continued to hold in the second period, but an exclusion and penalty would give Fordham two more tallies on the scoreboard as they led 3-1 with 2:21 left in the half. Wyatt Bugbee would cut the lead in half with a perfectly placed shot at even strength, as the Lancers would be content to only trail by one after 16 minutes. Fordham would score the first goal of the second half, but a goal from Whitely Beamon would immediately answer that. Fordham would again have the answer to extend its lead back to two, but Rafa Martinez would score from the middle to again bring CBU within one goal of the Rams.

The Rams would blow the game open in the fourth period, beginning the frame on a 3-0 run that extended their lead to 5 at 9-4. Collin White would break up the run with a goal with 3:38 to play to give the Lancers some life. Fordham's defense would halt multiple solid Lancers opportunities down the stretch as they would churn out a 10-6 victory.

Andrea Nuzzo and Whitley Beamon led the scoring for the Lancers with seven combined points, led by Beamon with four (1 goal, 3 assists). McCreary had one of the best games of his season with nine saves in the full 32 minutes of action, which included a penalty save.

NEXT: The Lancers will remain in Southern California as they compete in the Gary Troyer Tournament from Friday, October 2, to Saturday, October 3, in Pomona, California.