FRESNO, Calif. – Splashing into their second conference match of the season, the men's water polo team had a thrilling showdown with Biola at Sunnyside Aquatics Center, but ultimately fell to the Eagles 6-8.

In the first period, Forrest Gray responded quickly to the Eagles first goal, burying the ball into the back of the cage to tie it 1-1. Christian Clark with the behind the back shot marked the second goal for the Sunbirds with only eight seconds remaining on the shot clock. Biola didn't slow down, netting another goal to combat the Sunbirds' charge. With less than four minutes left, Tristin Fox scored with an impressive shot from the left side, bumping the 'Birds ahead 3-2. Taking advantage of the clock, the Eagles patiently paced the ball around the pool until they sunk another into the cage. A phenomenal save by the WWPA Defensive Player of the Week, Chase Hammes, kept it at a 3-3 draw.

Biola showcased its dominance at the start of the second, striking twice against FPU to claim the 3-5 lead. In the cage, Hammes fought off the attacking Eagles to the best of his ability, tallying save after save, but Biola scored again with 32 seconds remaining on the clock. Fresno Pacific struggled to score during this period and it ultimately ended in Biola's favor, 3-6.

Coming out of the half, Fresno Pacific saw a shift in their offensive strategies with Gray and Clark leading the charge. At the four-minute mark, Chris Sandino was in the right place at the right time and stole the ball to give Blake Johnson an opportunity to shoot one off. However, Biola's senior goalkeeper was unfazed and blocked each of the Sunbirds' attempts. With three minutes remaining, the Eagles jumped to a four-point lead. Using his dexterity, Hammes protected the cage from a deep shot from the left side and stretched up to tip a high ball away from the net, shifting the momentum in the 'Birds favor. Soon after, lead scorer Gray found the back of the net on the powerplay to bridge the gap, then utilized an assist from Ramos to add another to FPU's board, making it 5-7.

In the final stretch, the Sunbirds defense did an incredible job at slowing down the Eagles, capturing multiple steals and field blocks against their opponent. A great shot attempt by Fox hit the crossbar, but the ball bounced back into the Eagle's possession. The Eagles added another point to their board after a full timeout, breaking ahead 8-5. With two seconds left, Hammes sent a long ball to Gray who netted the final goal of the match, ending it all 6-8.

"We knew going into the game that it would be a battle and our guys fought hard through the final possession," said head coach Jonathan Miller. "I was really happy with our defensive energy throughout the game, and we created a lot of offensive opportunities on the opposite end that we just need to finish. We are competing well, looking forward to the next game tomorrow!"

NEXT UP: The Sunbirds continue conference play with their home match against Concordia University Irvine on Saturday, October 18th at 2 pm. Stop by Sunnyside Aquatics Center to cheer on your 'Birds!
 
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