PASADENA, Calif. – Cal Lutheran men's water polo (8-7, 1-2 SCIAC) earned its first conference win of the season on Saturday afternoon, defeating Caltech (5-12, 0-5 SCIAC) on the road by a score of 20-6. 12 different Kingsmen scored a goal and four additional Kingsmen added at least one assist, led by standout freshman
Ceasar Nava's team-high five goals.
Jack Bradbury and
Alan Castillo got the festivities going with two goals to put Cal Lutheran up early. The Beavers were able to get on the board, but
Dylan Villanueva and
Tre Eade scored to extend the Kingsmen's lead to 4-1. Caltech responded with a couple goals before
Luke Chang ended the first period with a goal to give Cal Lutheran a 5-3 lead.
Cal Lutheran completely dominated the second period, converting five goals shutting out Caltech.
Zachary Isaac got the scoring spree started, and then both Nava and
Adam Scrivner netted back-to-back goals before the half. Cal Lutheran went into the break leading 10-3.
Merrick Giles and
Levi Cook dropped in a pair of goals to kick off the third period, giving the Kingsmen eight unanswered scores to take a 12-3 advantage. The Beavers finally managed a score before Isaac and
Nic Mastropoalo found the back of the cage. Nava snuck in another goal to achieve a hat trick before the end of the third period. Cal Lutheran led 15-5.
Scrivner, Villanueva, Nava (twice), and
Alex Fewtrell scored the Kingsmen's five goals in the final quarter as Cal Lutheran took a 20-6 victory. Scrivner's goal gave him Cal Lutheran's second hat trick of the afternoon.
Cook, Villanueva,
Paul Patterson, and
Noah Carreon each had a team-high two assists.
Dylan Bassler,
Ethan Guereca, Mastropoalo, Giles, Castillo, Bradbury, and Change each added one assist.
Bassler spent three quarters in the cage, giving up just three goals while contributing five saves.
Bo DuBois played one quarter, registering four saves.
The Kingsmen will look to carry their momentum into a Wednesday home affair against Redlands.