O'FALLON, Ill. - For the first time in program history, the Concordia University Irvine men's water polo team competed in the WWPA Championship Game.
Concordia had already defeated Gannon, the No. 2 seed from the East division, and then beat top-seeded Salem on Friday from the east side to earn the program's first appearance in the final match. The three-day tournament started Friday morning and officially concluded with CUI facing a familiar foe in No. 1 West seed Biola.
Concordia faced Biola twice this season in regular conference play, but the Eagles beat CUI both times.
The Golden Eagles aimed to break the streak. In the first period, CUI outscored Biola. After Dawson Brummett won the sprint, team captain Jacob Stuart scored the first goal of the match at the five minute mark. Sam Diamond was credited with the assist. Harry Bentham and Sam Diamond were right behind him and added two more goals for Concordia. Brummett captured the last goal of the period thanks to an assist from Stuart, making it 4-2.
Biola answered with authority in the second period. The Biola Eagles achieved six goals to Concordia's two and widened the gap. Carlos Olat and Stuart were the only Golden Eagles to score within these eight minutes, but the Green and the Gold remained determined.
Despite Biola's lead in the third, Leo Erickson scored an impressive goal for Concordia on a penalty shot. Erickson passed the good energy to Sam Diamond, who scored the next CUI goal to make it 11-8. Nearing the last minute, freshman Kaliq Khan added a tally to the Golden Eagles scoresheet in hopes of bridging the gap.
By the final period, Biola was in the lead 14-9. Tanner Powell made it hard for the No. 1 seed with his eight saves. Stuart, Erickson, and Diamond scored a goal each for the Green and the Gold, but as the clock ran down, the match came to an end with Biola winning the Championship 18-12.
After a hard-fought match, the Concordia men's water polo team officially wrapped up the season with an overall record of 12-17.
Harry Bentham and captain Jacob Stuart were both named to the All-Tournament squad as First Team selections. Joining them was Second Team selection Stan De Mey.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Justin Johnson, the Golden Eagles accomplished a lot with a young team. CUI won two playoff games at the WWPA Conference Championships for the first time, saw both Stuart and Powell earn WWPA Player of the Week honors once during the season, and had four student-athletes earn end-of-the-year recognition by the league.
Bentham was named First Team All-Conference and also made the All-Defensive Team. Stuart was tabbed as a Second Team All-Conference honoree, plus newcomers Kaliq Khan and Jace Peterson both made the All-Freshman Team.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's water polo schedule.
