On Oct. 23-24 men’s water polo headed to San Jose, California to compete in the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament. Biola competed against Iona College, Princeton University and San Jose State University. The Eagles fell in all three matches, despite the loss they scored double digits for the fourth time this season.
SO CLOSE YET SO FAR
On Saturday morning the Eagles faced Iona College. Iona started the match with three goals, but Biola retaliated with goals of their own. Freshman utility John Grasso made the first goal and freshman center Luke Franklin made the second goal for the Eagles. Iona responded with another goal, leaving the score 4-2 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter Biola made three goals. At the half Iona had a one-point advantage. The competition heated up as Biola and Iona took turns scoring goals, with the Eagles close behind.
Freshman attacker Will Tibbets, sophomore center defender Maxwell Osborn, freshman utility Nolan Rapp, sophomore attacker Kenny Wulf, junior center Matthew Vinson and sophomore utility Dominic Hidalgo-Valecillo all contributed goals for Biola. The Eagles were unable to catch up, ultimately losing, 15-13.
NOT FAR BEHIND
On day two Biola took on the No.12 Princeton University Tigers. Princeton held off the Eagles in the first quarter making seven goals. Osborn responded with a goal for the Eagles, but the Tigers quickly responded with three more. The Eagles were unable to overcome an early advantage and lost, 15-5.
Three hours later the Eagles faced off against the No.10 San Jose State University Spartans. Rapp, Wulf and Osborn made a goal each in the first quarter but the Eagles were unable to match the six goals the Spartans made. Junior utility Jonas Huckabay was the only Eagle to score a goal in the second half. The Spartans had a five-point advantage at the half, leading them to an easy defeat, 17-6.
The Eagles continue to push through as a first-year water polo program and find little victories. However, freshman goalkeeper Mitchell Carpenter continues to shine as he totaled 29 saves through the entire weekend.
Men’s water polo (1-18, 0-7) will return home to face off against Concordia University Irvine on Oct. 27. Footage from today’s match is located on the Biola Athletics website.
