RIVERSIDE, Calif. – In tightly contested matchups at the Lancer Aquatic Center, the Concordia University Irvine men's water polo team came up just short in an 8–6 loss to Cal State Fullerton and a 15-12 loss to CBU.
CUI 6, CSUF 8
The Golden Eagles (CUI) showed resilience throughout, answering Fullerton's early goals with key strikes of their own. Junior Kai Young opened the scoring for CUI in the first quarter, while Dimitrios Koritsas powered the offense with a pair of goals, including a penalty conversion in the second period. Oscar Garcia Blomback added two goals of his own, capitalizing on an exclusion opportunity to tie the game at 3–3 before halftime.
The Titans, however, edged ahead late in the third quarter behind goals from Andrew Barnuevo and Nico D'Angelo, carrying a narrow 5–4 advantage into the final frame. Despite strong defensive stands and clutch saves from goalkeeper Pablo de Souza (10 saves), Fullerton extended its lead to two.
CUI fought back in the fourth, with Porter Rosenlof scoring on a power play to pull the Golden Eagles within striking distance. With just six seconds remaining, Garcia Blomback found the back of the cage to cut the deficit to one, but the Titans responded immediately with a goal at the buzzer to seal the 8–6 result.
The Golden Eagles finished with 26 shots and went 3-for-9 on the power play, while the Titans converted three of their 11 man-up chances. De Souza anchored the defense with a .556 save percentage, while Rosenlof and Koritsas paced the team with key goals in the second half.
Concordia will look to bounce back in its next contest as the Golden Eagles continue their season slate against another SoCal rival.
CUI 12, CBU 15
In their second game of a Saturday doubleheader, the Concordia University Irvine men's water polo team went toe-to-toe with nationally ranked No. 15 California Baptist before ultimately falling 15–12 at the Lancer Aquatic Center.
The Golden Eagles came out firing, building an early 3–0 lead on goals from Dimitrios Koritsas, Kai Young, and Sam Diamond. Concordia kept pace with the Lancers in a high-scoring first quarter, with Hugo Wouters adding a tally to give CUI five goals in the frame. However, CBU answered with a late push to even the game at 5–5 heading into the second.
The Lancers seized control in the middle quarters, outscoring CUI 8–2 over the second and third periods. But, the Golden Eagles respinded with fire. Koritsas powered the offense with a game-high four goals, while Diamond netted a pair and added an assist. Kai Young, Kaliq Khan, Luc Chapman, Levi Riegelmann, and Wouters each chipped in goals, with Chapman's score in the final 30 seconds closing out Concordia's five-goal fourth quarter.
In the cage, senior goalkeeper Pablo de Souza recorded 10 saves while facing 37 shots from the Lancers' attack.
NEXT UP:
The Golden Eagles will play next at home, with a rare doubleheader against McKendree and Mount Saint Marys at 10 AM and 1 PM.
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