RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Cal Lutheran men's water polo was back in the pool at the Cal Baptist Invitational tonight after a two week hiatus. With a pair of tough opponents the Kingsmen fell to Fresno Pacific, 15-9, and host CBU, 13-7.
In the first game, CLU and FPU played goal-for-goal and the teams were knotted at 3-3 after the opening quarter. The Kingsmen took a 5-4 advantage at the break, but a six-goal third period from the Sunbirds swayed the momentum and Cal Lutheran was unable to recover. FPU added five more in the final frame while the Violet and Gold scored just four times in the final 16 minutes of action.
Game two was like déjà vu. The teams were tied at 2-2 after the first and Cal Lutheran took a 6-4 lead at the intermission. Another third quarter produced another turning point as the Lancers netted four goals to one from the Kingsmen who were unable to find the back of the net in the final eight minute period. The home team tacked on five more in the fourth to deny the CLU squad of their first win of the fall.
Overall on the day, eight different players scored for the Violet and Gold, led by three goals apiece from Zach Graper, Camron Hauer and Asante Sefa-Boakye. Graper and Sefa-Boakye each earned a hat-trick, with Graper recording his against Fresno Pacific in the opening game and Sefa-Boakye producing his against CBU in the late game. Adding a pair of goals against FPU was Zack Card while AJ Franklin found the back of the net once in each contest. The final goals came from Shea Craig, Justin English and Taylor McMaster.
To help generate the offense, Sefa-Boakye drew five total ejections on the day. Hauer, Mike Arteaga and Mike Potter each finished with a pair of drawn ejections. Jack Acampora provided a trio of assists while Hauer and Jake Gallagher handed out a pair apiece as well.
Defensively, Jesse Owen started both games and played seven total quarters, turning away five shots against FPU and 10 against Cal Baptist to finish with 15. Zach Loza made his first appearance of the season and recorded two saves, with a steal, against Fresno Pacific in one quarter of action. Craig and McMaster each tallied a field block against CBU. The Kingsmen combined for 21 steals as Tyler McMaster paced the team with three today.
Cal Lutheran (0-4) will be on the road again next weekend when the Kingsmen travel to Davis, Calif. for a trio games at the Aggie Shootout hosted by UC Davis. CLU will play Santa Clara on Friday, Sept. 26 at 5:20 p.m. and return to the pool on Saturday to face off with host UC Davis and the University of the Pacific, respectively, at 9:10 a.m. and 4:10 p.m.
Box Score: CBU 13, CLU 7
Box Score: FPU 15, CLU 9
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