THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - On a gorgeous first day of autumn, the Cal Lutheran men's water polo team hosted a three-game, three-team mini tournament at the Samuelson Aquatics Center with Cerritos College and Los Angeles Valley College. The Kingsmen started the day with an 8-7 win over LAVC before nearly notching a come-from-behind win over Cerritos, falling by the narrowest of margins at 14-13.
CLU def. LAVC 8-7:
The day started with a match that featured a tale of two halves. A defensive start saw the teams exchange one goal in the first frame and two in the second with the initial scoring play not occurring until almost five minutes into action. A more offensive third period ensued as the teams exchanged three goals apiece to send the contest into the fourth knotted at 6-6. CLU was able to maneuver and execute, scoring twice with AJ Franklin posting the ultimate winning goal, after notching the first of the day, before a CLU defensive stand with 41 seconds remaining all but sealed the game for the Kingsmen. Shea Craig led the offense for Cal Lutheran with three goals while both Franklin and Jack Acampora finished with a pair apiece and Chris Gardhouse rounded out the scoring. Goalkeeper Nick Loomis recorded eight saves in the win.
CERRITOS def. LAVC 15-9:
Cerritos College controlled the momentum of the second game, jumping out to a 6-0 lead after the first eight minutes and the Falcons pushed their advantage to 11-3 at the intermission. LAVC staged a late comeback, scoring six second half goals, including three unanswered in the final frame. Angel Rojas led CC with seven goals and Marlon Moreno added six. LAVP looked to Arman Momdzyhan for five goals in the loss.
CERRITOS def. CLU 14-13:
Although the Kingsmen struck first, Cerritos led 3-2 at the end of the first period and opened a 7-4 halftime lead. Cerritos maintained a three-goal lead through the third and the teams started the fourth with a 9-6 score. CLU chipped away and erased a five-goal deficit of 11-6 to pull even at 12-12 on a Zack Card five-meter shot before taking a momentary lead at 13-12 after a George French score. Unfortunately for the Kingsmen, CC posted the final two scoring plays of the day and a late charge by CLU came up just short. Card led the way with four goals and French earned a pair of drawn ejections. Acampora shined again with a team-high five steals, adding a hat-trick with three goals as well as two drawn ejections and an assist. Loomis played all four quarters again, recording 13 saves.
Notables: CLU is in the midst of a five-game home stand. Craig and Gardhouse each had four steals and Gardhouse added two field blocks against LAVC. Carddrew three ejections in the first game against the Monarchs. In game two, three players scored twice, a trio more had two assists and two Kingsmen earned a pair of ejections drawn. Gardhouse added a second field block and was one of two the players with three steals against the Falcons.
Next Up: Cal Lutheran (2-4) returns to the Samuelson Aquatics Center on Friday, Sept. 25 for another non-conference contest when the Kingsmen host the Air Force Academy for a 3:30 p.m. first sprint.
Schedule: Cal Lutheran
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