GENEVA, Ohio. - The Concordia University Irvine Golden Eagles have officially made program history.
With a commanding 9–5 win over Biola in the WWPA Championship, CUI secured its first-ever conference title and, with it, the program's first trip to the NCAA Championships. The milestone victory capped a dominant tournament run and cemented Concordia's rise as a powerhouse within the conference.
Leading the charge was junior goalkeeper Pablo de Souza, who was named the WWPA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after another elite performance. De Souza recorded 11 saves and allowed only five goals, anchoring a defensive unit that forced 15 steals and suffocated Biola's offensive attempts from the opening sprint.
CUI's scoring depth shined on the championship stage. Oscar Garcia Blomback and Harry Bentham each netted two goals, providing early separation and steady momentum. Sam Diamond, Carter Clenney, Nicolas Fuchs, Porter Rosenlof, and Kaliq Khan added goals to round out a balanced attack that kept Biola's defense on its heels.
Khan delivered a standout all-around effort with a goal, two assists, and a sprint win, while Rosenlof and Dimitrios Koritsas kept the offense clicking with key distribution and defensive pressure.
Postgame honors further highlighted CUI's championship-caliber roster. Alongside de Souza's top accolade, Koritsas and Hugo Wouters were named to the WWPA All-Tournament First Team, and Bentham earned a spot on the Second Team—a reflection of the Golden Eagles' impact across all positions.
For CUI, this win is more than a championship—it's a breakthrough moment. A first WWPA title. A first NCAA berth. And a statement that the Golden Eagles have arrived on the national stage.
NEXT UP:
The Golden Eagles will compete in the NCAA Championships, where CUI will fly in carrying momentum, history, and the pride of a program reaching new heights.
CUI is one of only eight men's water polo programs to qualify and will play No. 1 seed USC on Friday, Dec. 5 at 12 pm PT up in Northern California. The NCAA Men's Water Polo Championships are being hosted by Stanford University and will be played over three days at the Avery Aquatic Center in Stanford, Calif. For the full NCAA bracket CLICK HERE.
Note: Live Stats for the NCAA Championship games will be provided by the 6-8 platform thanks to tournament host Stanford University.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's water polo schedule
