THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - This afternoon, for the first time of the year, the Cal Lutheran men's water polo team dove into the Samuelson Aquatics Center in a competitive setting. The Kingsmen took down Ventura College 15-4.
CLU built a quick lead that they would not relinquish, executing on offense and defense throughout the 32 minutes of action.
On an afternoon that 10 different Kingsmen added to the final score, AJ Franklin and Jake Gallagher eachfinished with a hat-trick and Jack Acampora added a pair. The remaining seven goals came from as many different players. Mats Albins, Camron Hauer and Ryan Moguel each drew two ejections. Overall, 11 different players handed out an assist with Zack Card accounting for two and Nick Loomis matching that number while manning the cage for all four quarters as the goalkeeper and recording 10 saves. Defensively, Shea Craig had a pair of field blocks and Franklin and Hauernabbed three steals apiece.
Just over two minutes into action, Gallagherpassed to Franklinfor the first goal at home this fall. Gallagher then found the back of the net on a pass from Cardand late in the first quarter Cameron Knudsen added a third first quarter goal. Cal Lutheran added a trio more to the score in the second stanza, with Franklin scoring the ultimate winning goal, as the Kingsmen took a 6-0 lead into the break.
After the intermission, VC broke the plane of the goal for the first time of the day, but on the ensuing possession, CLU reciprocated. The momentum stayed on the side of the Kingsmen for the remainder of the game and nearly everyone on the roster got in the pool. Ramon Olivier V had a strong showing in the fourth quarter
Cal Lutheran (2-3) will host a mini-tournament on Wednesday, Sept. 23 when the Kingsmen face both LA Valley College (1:00 p.m.) and Cerritos College (5:00 p.m.) with the two visiting teams playing one another at 3:15 p.m. All games will take place in the Samuelson Aquatics Center.
Box Score: CLU 15, VC 4 - box score unavailable at time of release
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