LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola Men's Water Polo returned home Thursday night to one of its biggest crowds ever, opening the home portion of its WWPA schedule against Concordia Irvine in front of roaring fans at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center.
The atmosphere remained lively throughout the night, even as the weather took a dramatic turn with heavy rain beginning to fall during the fourth quarter.
On the scoreboard, Concordia built an early advantage and maintained control on its way to a 16-11 victory, ending Biola's six-game winning streak and dropping the Eagles to 12-14 overall and 2-1 in WWPA play.
Concordia struck for the game's first three goals before Biola began to settle in.
Gavin Starling converted a five-meter opportunity to put the Eagles on the board, and
Kevin Slack followed less than a minute later to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Concordia added a goal in the closing second of the opening period, however, and then the Golden Eagles gradually stretched the margin from there. The visitors carried an 8-4 lead into halftime and pushed it to 11-6 with a strong third quarter.
Biola continued battling in the fourth stanza despite the growing deficit and the sudden downpour.
Noah Ryznar led the offensive effort with four goals, including a pair of five-meter conversions during the final period. His four-goal night raises his program-record season total to 89 goals.
Slack was efficient in support, scoring twice on two shots and showing massive energy and enthusiasm to thrill the home crowd.
Aiden Ortiz contributed a goal, an assist and two steals, while
Kyle Seifen and Starling each finished with a goal and an assist.
Jake Burns and
Caden Digby also found the back of the cage.
Biola scored five times in the fourth quarter, its best offensive period of the night, but Concordia answered often enough to keep the Eagles from seriously threatening the advantage.
Thursday added another chapter to what has become one of Biola's most familiar matchups. It was the first matchup of the year between two teams who met three times in 2025.Â
The victory for CUI broke a deadlock atop the west region WWPA standings with Concordia moving to 3-0 and Biola dropping to 2-1.
Biola remains home Saturday for a 6 p.m. scrimmage against Cuesta College before returning to official competition with a road meeting against Concordia on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at Woollett Aquatic Center in Irvine. There will be no live stream or scoring on Saturday for the scrimmage, so make sure to make it out on deck for Breast Cancer Awareness Night. Fans on deck can take home a pink Biola lanyard.
