RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's water polo team fell twice at The Joust on Friday hosted by California Baptist, losing 13-9 to Concordia University Irvine and 25-5 to 15th-ranked Cal Baptist.
The Bobcats (12-9) saw five different players score at least one goal in each match, including Camden Peterson who recorded four goals in the loss to Concordia.
Game 1 | CUI 13, UC Merced 9
Peterson scored four goals and Matthew Lloyd tallied eleven saves to keep the Bobcats in the game, but it wasn't enough against CUI in the first of two meetings between the two teams this year. Tommy Bauer and James Soto each found the back of the net and added two assists.
CUI scored the first two goals of the day and three of the first four before Peterson and Howie Zeff scored in the final 90 seconds of the first quarter to pull even at 3-3.
Peterson struck again quickly in the second quarter to give the Bobcats their first lead of the day, while Andrew Jones doubled the advantage shortly after. The Golden Eagles came storming back with four unanswered goals to take a 7-5 lead at halftime, including the last two on penalties.
Out of the break, Killian Nguyen ended the Bobcats scoring drought but UC Merced couldn't pull any closer than a one-goal deficit the rest of the way. CUI followed with three straight goals for a 10-6 lead before Bauer deposited a shot into the back of the net.
The two teams went goal-for-goal with each other in the fourth quarter but neither squad scored in the final two minutes, culminating in a 13-9 final. Both of the Bobcats goals in the final frame were scored by Soto and Peterson on a power play. CUI scored the final goal of the game with 2:39 to go.
Game 2 | Cal Baptist 25, UC Merced 5
The Bobcats fell 25-5 to the host Lancers, who came in at #15 in the nation. Cal Baptist marked the Bobcats second-highest ranked opponent in program history.
Bauer, Jones, Nguyen, Peterson, and Soto each scored for the Bobcats. Sebastian Palomera had seven saves.
Cal Baptist scored nine consecutive goals before Soto struck first for the Bobcats. Cal Baptist followed with three more scores before halftime to take a 12-1 lead into the break.
The Lancers picked up right where they left off to kick off the second half, scoring three times within the first two and a half minutes and scored seven goals overall in the third quarter while shutting out the Bobcats.
Trailing 19-1 going into the fourth quarter, UC Merced started to get its offense going and scored four times before the final buzzer. Although, Cal Baptist outscored the Bobcats with six fourth quarter goals.
Up next, UC Merced will play Cal State Fullerton and 12th-ranked UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, October 7 at Santa Barbara High School in Santa Barbara, Calif.
