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The Official Athletic Site of the Biola University Eagles

Scoreboard

Rapp pass
Samantha Rainey
7
Biola BU (21-13)
20
Winner UCLA UCLA (25-2)
Biola BU
(21-13)
7
Final
20
UCLA UCLA
(25-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Biola BU 2 3 0 2 7
UCLA UCLA 6 6 5 3 20

Game Recap: Men's Water Polo | | Ethan McGarvey, Sports Information Director

Building Block

The Eagles made their NCAA National Championships debut on Friday in a loss against No. 1 UCLA.

LOS ANGELES --- The BU men's water polo squad took the next step and made its first appearance at the National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championships on Friday. The team battled the top-seeded UCLA Bruins and fell in a 20-7 final score in the opening round.

"I'm extremely proud of what we have accomplished this year and the hard work that these guys have put in," said Head Coach Rick Nordell. "We came out and for a quarter and a half fought really tough and went toe-to-toe and goal-to-goal with (UCLA)."

Biola was the first team on the scoreboard and held the first lead of the contest. On their first possession of the tournament, the Eagles cashed in on a 6-5 power play. Caleb Hernandez kicked off the scoring for the team with a helper from Nick Murray.

The game remained close over the next few minutes, as the Eagles drew another UCLA exclusion. This time Roman Saroyan found the back of the net, sneaking it past the goalie on the near side.

The two first goals kept BU within reach but the Bruins boasted a 6-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Biola offense was reinvigorated after the short break, scoring on the first two possessions of the second stanza. Saroyan won the sprint to start the period and Adam LaVoy scored inside for a quick BU goal. Less than 30 seconds later, Saroyan added his second tally of the contest, bringing the Eagles within two at 6-4.

"The atmosphere was amazing," commented BU senior Dominic Hidalgo-Valecillo. "We have the best fan base and I was really glad to see everyone who was able to come out."

UCLA responded with a score but the Eagles kept pressing. Nolan Rapp gave Biola a goal on a third-straight try, scoring from long range on another power play. With six minutes left in the third, BU remained close at 7-5.

Nearly 16 minutes would elapse before the next Biola goal. The Bruins scored 11 unanswered goals on the way to a 18-5 advantage early in the fourth. Rapp ended the drought for BU, hitting again from distance to give the team its sixth goal.

Rapp was all over the place on Friday, taking part in all six goals for BU. The junior finished the day with two goals and four assists for six points. 

Saroyan was the leading scorer for the Eagles with three tallies on Friday, while also adding a pair of sprint victories.

Nordell's message to the team following the game, "We will be back."

The Eagles capped off their incredible season on Friday and are set to graduate Maxwell Osborn, Dominic Hidalgo-Valecillo, and Joshua Halopoff.
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