RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The first game of the Lancer Invitational saw the Cal Lutheran men's water polo team down league rival Occidental by one goal to earn a 10-9 victory. In the evening game CLU fell 14-8 to NAIA host Cal Baptist.
A tough preseason schedule has paid dividends for the Kingsmen in the early part of the season as they are currently 3-0 against programs at the Division III level.
Today against a familiar foe in Occidental, Cal Lutheran won all four sprints and controlled the majority of the contest. The Kingsmen took a 3-2 first period lead and pushed the advantage to 7-3 in the second frame. After the break the Tigers tempo increased, outscoring CLU 3-1 in the third quarter to make it a two-goal game entering the final frame.
The fourth quarter was a battle. With just over three minutes to play the Black and Orange tied the game at 9-9. A minute and a half later with 1:23 remaining in regulation, Cal Lutheran drew an ejection. On the power play the Kingsmen moved the ball quickly and accurately, getting it to Max Zappas, who was open at the top, for a hat-trick and the game-winner. The CLU defense stepped up over the final minute to secure the victory.
"I don't think that having a familiar opponent today was a big advantage, but playing a Division III team was easier after the Division I teams have prepared us for SCIAC schools," Zappasshared.
Zappas shared a game-high, with Samuel Akiyama from Occidental, as each player scored three times. Hunter Hamaker and Mike Potter had multi-goal games with two apiece.
Additionally, Zappas drew four ejections also coming up with three steals. Hamaker, Mike Arteaga and Nathan Ortega each had two drawn ejections against Oxy and Potter dished out an assist and tallied two field blocks. Defensively, Camron Hauer chipped in with a field block and a steal while goalkeeper Jesse Owen, who played all four quarters, had eight saves.
The evening contest saw the Lancers take a 3-1 first period lead and CLU was never able to catch up. The Kingsmen fired off 23 shots, scoring eight times. Leading the squad offensively was Zach Graper with two goals. Potter and Owen each had an assist and Ortega drew a team-high four ejections. Potter finished with three and Shea Craig and Taylor McMaster drew a pair apieceagainst CBU.
At the defensive end of the pool Ortega recorded a field block. The Kingsmen combined for 11 steals with Zack Card recording a trio while Arteaga and Hauer each stole the ball twice.
Cal Lutheran (3-8) returns to the Samuelson Aquatics Center for the first time in 2013 on Thursday, Sept. 26. CLU will face off with Concordia-Irvine at 2:00 p.m. before taking on Cerritos College at 5:00 p.m. CUI and CC are set to play at 11:00 a.m. to kick off the day.
Box Score: CLU 10, OXY 9
Box Score: CBU 14, CLU 8
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