ORANGE, Calif. – Three different players scored three goals to lift the Chapman University men's water polo team to a 13-9 comeback win over visiting Cal Lutheran on Saturday. The Panthers (5-8, 3-1 SCIAC) dominated the even quarters to come away with the victory.
Chapman fell behind early as Cal Lutheran (4-7, 2-2 SCIAC) burst out to a 5-2 lead. However, the Panthers scored the next four goals to take a lead into halftime and never trailed again. Sophomore Cameron Genetti, junior Brady Hoskins and senior Bennett Royce all scored three goals to fuel the Panthers comeback.
Bennett scored his first goal to give Chapman the initial lead but Cal Lutheran scored five of the next six to take command. Genetti closed the first quarter with his first goal to make it 5-3. The Panther defense stiffened up in the second quarter as sophomore Wesley Hertel blocked everything on goal to keep the Kingsmen scoreless. On the other end, Royce, Genetti and Hoskins each scored their second goal of the match for a 6-5 halftime lead.
Mats Albins scored the first goal of the third quarter to tie it up for Cal Lutheran but Hoskins buried his third goal and senior Wilson Parnell added a goal to make it 8-6. Two more Cal Lutheran goals made tied the match back up at 8-8 before freshman Hayden Reider scored in the waning moments of the quarter to give Chapman a 9-8 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Panthers pulled away as junior Kevin Dayan's goal was followed by Genetti and Royce to make a 12-8 with just under four minutes to go.
Albins scored twice for Cal Lutheran as did Zack Zemecki. Hertel ended the match with nine saves for Chapman to go along with five steals. Cal Lutheran went just 3-for-10 in extra-man opportunities while the Panthers scored on five of their eight man-up opportunities.
Chapman heads to Whittier on Saturday to kick off a six-match road swing before returning home on Oct. 17 to face Redlands.
By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director
Become a fan of Chapman Athletics on Facebook
Follow Chapman Athletics on Twitter @ChapmanSports
Post your #PantherPic to Instagram @ChapmanSports
#Chaptown
