LA VERNE, Calif. – Two high-scoring contests were on the menu for the Concordia University Irvine men's water polo team on Saturday, including a thrilling and frantic finish against the host Leopards.

Harry Bentham scored the game-winning goal on a crafty backhand attempt with only three seconds left in regulation to secure an 18-17 victory over La Verne. 

CUI scored a whopping 33 goals and split its two games on Saturday, falling by a narrow margin to George Washington earlier in the afternoon.

George Washington 17, CUI 15

In the first game of the day, Concordia received a balanced scoring effort from its lineup.

Stan De Mey led the charge with a season-high five goals against GW. Sophomore Sam Diamond had a gem of a game as well with four goals as did Bentham.  That trio was aided by young guns Oscar Garcia Blomback and Kaliq Khan who each added a goal for good measure.

Tanner Powell and Hunter Osgood combined to make a dozen stops to keep the Golden Eagles close.  Neither team outscored the other by more than one in each period.

CUI 18, La Verne 17

Stan De Mey tallied four more goals against the Leopards and was credited with five assists as well. That gave him a team-high nine scores on the day.

De Mey scored three times in the fourth period alone to help push CUI across the finish line.  Sam Diamond and Dawson Brummett also found the back of the net at a clutch time to help the cause.

Leo Erickson scored on a powerplay goal to put CUI up 17-16 with 57 seconds remaining. But La Verne rallied to tie the game with under ten seconds to go.

After a CUI timeout by first-year head coach Justin Johnson, the Golden Eagles surprised La Verne as Bentham quickly found the back of the net in dramatic fashion.

Hunter Osgood earned the victory after coming in at halftime and racking up six saves between the pipes.

CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's water polo schedule