Poets finish Day 2 of Cal Baptist Invite with an upset win over Vanguard 7-6
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Whittier College men's water polo team finished the Cal Baptist Invite splitting on Day 2 upsetting Vanguard University 7-6, but then falling to the hosts Cal Baptist 18-8.
Game 1 (Vanguard University - W 7-6)
This is the first time these two teams have met this season but this is the 5th NAIA program the Poets have faced.
In the first quarter, Vanguard got out on to an early 1-0 lead but in the 6th minute senior Chet Schuster put the Poets on the scoreboard. But the Lions would tack on another two goals to finish off the quarter leading 3-1. In the second the Poet defense stepped up and held the Lions scoreless, while Asante Sefa-Boakye found the back of the goal to put the Poets within one at 3-2 entering the half.
As the third quarter got underway Vanguard and Whittier swapped goals keeping the score differential at two but the Whittier offense stepped up as the purple and gold rattled off three straight goals to take a 6-5 lead going into the fourth.
In that quarter Kyle Catino led the offensive attack with three goals, while Erick Bonander chipped in with one.
In the final quarter, Sefa-Boakye was able to connect from 5 meters to put the Poets up 7-5 and in the final minutes, Vanguard was able to get one back but it wouldn't be enough as the Poet would hold on for the 7-6 victory.
Junior goalie Chad Evenrud was yet again a rock between the pipes as he compiled nine saves.
Game 2 (Cal Baptist – L 18-8)
In game two the Poets found themselves pitted against the host team Cal Baptist and yet another NAIA program. In the first quarter Cal Baptist jumped out to an early 2-0 lead but Erick Gonzalez was able to put the purple and gold on the scoreboard in the 3rd minute. Cal Baptist would then add three more goals to end the quarter up 5-1.
In the second Cal Baptist added another four goals early to go up 8-1 until Whittier stopped the run with nine seconds remaining in the quarter as Thomas Clauss knocked in his first goal of the game.
Coming out of intermission Whittier struck first getting the score to 10-3 thanks to Carlos Panfilo, but Cal Baptist would another three goals as they went ahead 13-3. Whittier then got another goal from Gonzalez and then another two from Wes Paulson.
In the final quarter Cal Baptist went on a four goal run until Kevin Scott and Panfilo hit back to back goals but it wasn't enough as Cal Baptist went on to win 18-8.
Whittier returns to the pool as they travel to No. 1 Loyola Marymount on Thursday October 6 beginning at 3:00pm.
