CBU Goes Perfect on Opening Day of the IE Classic

Friday, September 4

Redlands, CA

10:30 AM

California Baptist University

3-1

Concordia University Irvine

2-2

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Concordia	2	1	3	2	8
California Baptist	7	6	3	5	21

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
California Baptist	7	4	5	4	20
Cal Lutheran	5	2	0	3	10

CBU Goes Perfect on Opening Day of the IE Classic

9/4/2026 6:13:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

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

REDLANDS, CA--- The California Baptist University men's water polo team opened up the IE Classic in Redlands 2-0 on Friday as they dominated both the CUI Golden Eagles and the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen at Thompson Aquatics Center.

GAME 1 vs CUI:

The Lancers came out firing against the Golden Eagles, scoring seven goals from seven different goal scorers in the opening eight minutes. The offense was fueled by Andrea Nuzzo, who had three points with a goal and two assists. CBU's defense would give up two goals to CUI, but would lead 7-2 after the opening frame.

The Lancers' defense and Tanner McCreary were nearly perfect in the second period, allowing only one goal over eight minutes of play. The offense was just as potent as they were in the first period, as they would score six more goals, including the first collegiate goal of the career of Logan Hetland. The depth of CBU continued to be on full display as 11 Lancers scored in the first half, with Rafa Martinez and Paulo Hernández being the only players to score multiple times.

The Golden Eagles played the Lancers even in the third period with both teams finding the back of the net three times, and CBU would finish off CUI in the fourth by a final score of 21-8.

Hernandez would lead the way on the day with a hat trick and two assists, while Martinez, Quinton Hoffman, Ty VanderWall, Micah Grantham, and Tanner Alford all scored multiple goals in the match. The combination of McCreary and Tyler Carson in goal produced eight saves while allowing just eight goals as the Lancers earned win number four of the season.

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GAME 2 vs Cal Lutheran:

The Lancers and Kingsmen battled hard in the opening frame, with Cal Lutheran staying step for step with the Lancers. CBU would continue to find its offense throughout the first half, but it could not fully shake the Kingsmen over 16 minutes, as the Kingsmen led 11-7.

CBU provided the knockout punch in the third period, as they would shut out Cal Lutheran to the tune of a 5-0 period, denying multiple attempts from their opponent and scoring five goals themselves. The Lancers would outscore Cal Lutheran again in the fourth period, leading to a 20-10 result and 2-0 Friday for CBU to open up the IE Classic in Redlands.

Rafa Martinez and Wyatt Bugbee each provided a hat trick for the Lancers in the victory, with Martinez drawing six exclusions as well and Bugbee dishing out a pair of assists to lead CBU in points with five. Tyler Carson got the nod in goal for the entirety of the match and provided eight saves while allowing ten goals in the full 32 minutes of action.