Men's water polo takes down Biola, 10-9

ORANGE, Calif. – Ben Blatt made 12 saves and Everett Prussak scored the game-winner to lift the Chapman University men's water polo team to a 10-9 win over Biola. The Panthers improved to 5-1 to continue their best start to a season since joining the SCIAC.

Nate Randolph scored four times to lead the Panthers. After a tightly contested first half, Randolph's fourth goal gave the Panthers their largest lead at 8-5 with 4:29 left in the third. Biola put on the pressure on the defensive end and clawed its way back into the game in the fourth.

Maxwell Osborn led the Eagles with three goals and his third made it a one-goal game again with 5:27 to go. Ryan Baumann floated in a goal as the shot clock expired to put the lead back up to 9-7 but Biola responded moments later and tied up the match at 9-9 with just over three minutes to go.

With time ticking away, the Eagles had a chance to take the lead on their next possession but came up empty when Blatt knocked down a shot to the near post. He gathered the ball and fired right back to the other end of the pool where Prussak was 1-on-1 with the goalie. Prussak buried the opportunity and put Chapman back on top 10-9.

Biola had back-to-back opportunities to tie up the match but hit both posts to come away empty. With one final possession, the Eagles called timeout to draw up a play. Prussak denied the opportunity as he swam in for a steal on the wing and Chapman was able to run out the clock.

The Panthers beat Biola for the second time this season and will look to take momentum on the road with them as they head to the Rare Air Classic at the Air Force Academy on Saturday and Sunday.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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