IRVINE, Calif. --- Biola Men's Water Polo opened the 2026 season with a 16-13 loss to George Washington, which is receiving votes in the national poll, at the Anteater Aquatics Complex.
George Washington jumped ahead with a 3-0 first quarter before Biola got on the board. The Eagles opened their scoring in the second quarter as Noah Ryznar converted on a power play, part of a quarter that saw the two teams trade goals back and forth. Caden Digby added a goal off an assist from Ryan Previch, and Ryznar scored again on a power play with five seconds left in the half. That cut the deficit to 7-3 at the halftime break.
Biola came out strong in the third quarter, showing more offensive consistency. Each team scored five times in the frame. Landon Heuer opened the frame with an extra-man goal off a feed from Micah Hernandez, and Kyle Seifen followed with a goal assisted by Kacper Landowski.
Ryznar tallied his third goal of the day before
Gavin Starling and
Ryan Previch each scored in the frame's closing minute, with Previch's coming on an extra-man opportunity with 11 seconds left in the quarter. The Eagles trailed 12-8 heading into the fourth.
The fourth quarter went back and forth again, with Ryznar netting his fourth goal of the match off an assist from goalkeeper Igor Pinheiro, and Seifen and Ryder Imbriani each finding the net to keep Biola within striking distance. Starling and Jake Burns scored in the final two minutes, Burns' coming on an extra-man opportunity with 20 seconds remaining, but George Washington had built enough of a cushion to hold on for the win.
Ryznar led all scorers with four goals on eight shots. Seifen finished with two goals, one assist and two steals, while Previch, Digby, Starling, Heuer, Imbriani and Burns each found the net once. Hernandez dished out three assists without a goal of his own.
In goal, Pinheiro made eight saves across the contest, with Cooper Smith also getting some minutes.
Biola outshot George Washington and played a disciplined match, being whistled for four fewer exclusions. But the Revolutionaries ended up with just enough buffer room to open the season with a win.
The Eagles begin a season-long push toward the WWPA Championship, which Biola will host this November. They continue play in the UCI Invitational with a 3:40 p.m. matchup vs. Chapman.
