FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal Lutheran men's water polo split its final two games at the Titan Invitational on Saturday, defeating Fresno Pacific University 14-8 before falling to Brown University 19-9 to finish the weekend with a 2-2 record.
GAME ONE: CAL LUTHERAN 14, FRESNO PACIFIC 8
The Kingsmen opened the day with a strong start against Fresno Pacific, taking a 3-1 lead through the first quarter behind two goals from
Adam Scrivner and another from
Ethan Guereca.
Both teams scored three goals in the second quarter, allowing Cal Lutheran to carry a 6-4 advantage into halftime.
The Kingsmen then broke the game open in the third, scoring five times while holding the Sunbirds to just one goal.
Paul Patterson accounted for four of those five goals, giving Cal Lutheran a commanding 11-5 lead heading into the final period.
Fresno Pacific matched Cal Lutheran with three goals in the fourth, but the Kingsmen's early advantage proved too much to overcome as Cal Lutheran secured its second win over the Sunbirds this season.
Patterson led the Kingsmen with four goals and two assists, while eight other Cal Lutheran players also found the back of the net.
Jaeger Gonzales and
Dylan Bassler split time in goal and combined for 10 saves.
GAME TWO: BROWN 19, CAL LUTHERAN 9
Cal Lutheran jumped on the board first against Brown, with
Levi Cook opening the scoring in the first quarter. Brown responded with six goals in the period, however, taking a 6-3 lead into the second.
The Kingsmen tightened up defensively in the middle quarters, holding Brown to six combined goals while adding three of their own. Cook and the Cal Lutheran offense continued to battle, but Brown maintained a 12-6 advantage entering the final period.
Brown pulled away in the fourth, scoring seven goals to close out the 19-9 victory.
Cook led Cal Lutheran with three goals and three assists, while Patterson and
Max Gerdeman each added two goals.
Jacob Taff recorded 10 saves in goal.
UP NEXT
Cal Lutheran now turns its attention to SCIAC play, opening conference action on Saturday, September 26, at 11 a.m. against Pomona-Pitzer on the road.
