IRVINE, Calif.--- Biola Men's Water Polo battled WWPA-leading Concordia on Friday night, falling 16-9 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.
Concordia jumped out to a 4-0 advantage before the Eagles responded late in the opening quarter.
Micah Hernandez put Biola on the board off a feed from
Aiden Ortiz with 1:46 remaining, and
Gavin Starling converted a five-meter penalty with two seconds left to cut the deficit to 4-2 after one.
Noah Ryznar brought the Eagles within one early in the second quarter, finding the back of the cage with 5:52 remaining. Concordia answered with two straight goals before
Jayden Rose converted from the five-meter line to make it 6-4.
The hosts closed the half with three unanswered goals, taking a 9-4 advantage into the break.
Concordia continued to create separation in the third quarter, scoring the first three goals of the period. Rose stopped the run with his second five-meter conversion before Starling added another penalty goal with 13 seconds remaining. The Golden Eagles answered just before the buzzer to carry a 14-6 lead into the fourth.
Biola finished strong, outscoring Concordia 3-2 over the final eight minutes. Ryznar scored twice, first off an assist from
Jake Burns and later on a feed from
Landon Heuer, to complete his hat trick. Rose added Biola's final goal from the five-meter line with 28 seconds remaining, securing a hat trick of his own.
Ryznar and Rose led the Eagles with three goals apiece, while Starling scored twice and Hernandez added one. Burns, Heuer and Ortiz each recorded an assist.
Biola moved to 12-15 overall and 2-2 in WWPA play, while Concordia remained unbeaten in conference action at 4-0.
The Eagles return home Thursday, Nov. 5 to host UC Merced for Senior Night.
Â
