IRVINE, Calif. – Playing the first of five contests in a span of 72 hours, the Concordia University Irvine men's water polo team was planning on capitalizing on a tired California Baptist University team in a rare night game for the Eagles.
The back-and-forth battle that ensued between the Eagles and Lancers was a delight to watch on Thursday as the two teams traded goals in the first half at Beckman High School. It was 3-3 after the opening period.
CBU had already played and beaten Biola earlier in the afternoon, so the Lancers were trying to get their legs back underneath them.
CUI took advantage and tied the game for a fourth straight time on
Jeff Runyan's first score of the night. CBU slowly built a 9-3 lead by the break before the Lancers found a rhythm and pulled away for a 17-9 victory.
Runyan scored three times for CUI, plus
Andrew Dimino and
Jacob Stuart each found the back of the net twice. Dimino also won three of the four sprints as well to help CUI force the issue early.
Shako Khizanishvili and
Xander Luckett each chipped in with a goal apiece. Â
Christian Bowley led CUI with two recorded assists.
Goalie
Hunter Osgood collected seven stops and a game-high five steals.
The Green and Gold are scheduled to play twice more on Friday and two more times on Saturday in the Gary Troyer Tournament.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's water polo schedule
Â
