REDLANDS, Calif. - In the final game on day one of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Men's Water Polo Championships that pitted fourth seeded and host Redlands against No. 5 Cal Lutheran, the Bulldogs used a home crowd and third period burst to defeat the Kingsmen 12-6 on Friday evening.
The teams were even after the opening period in which Zach Graper scored a pair for CLU, but UR took a two-goal advantage at halftime after adding three goals while Graper netted the lone score for the Violet and Gold in the second stanza.
After the break, Redlands broke things open, pushing the gap to 10-5 and closed out with two more goals to put a late come-from-behind effort for the Kingsmen out of reach as they tacked on just one more score over the final frame.
Graper finished with a game-high five goals and AJ Franklin added the other CLU goal. Jack Acampora, Shea Craig, Tyler Graper and Nathan Ortega each handed out an assist and Zack Card and Camron Hauer drew two ejections apiece.
Defensively, Z. Graper was the only player with more than one steal, finishing with two and he recorded the only field block of the game as well.
Cal Lutheran (8-14, 4-5 SCIAC) will play Occidental tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 22, at 3:15 p.m.
Box Score: UR 12, CLU 6 - box score unavailable at time of release
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