The California Baptist University Lancers brought their season record to 3-3 with two wins at home Jan. 30.
The Lancers competed against California State University, Bakersfield, and the University of Redlands in their first home tournament of the season after playing in the Santa Barbara Invitational. After three losses and a win on the road, the team encountered victories at home.
“We are a senior-laden team with a ton of experience,” said Chelsea Curran, assistant coach of the women’s water polo team. “These upperclassmen know how to handle pressure, hard work and life balance. I would expect them to be able to pass down to the underclassmen a culture of excellence and life success.
Hannah Evans, senior sports management major and two-meter player, helped assist the Lancers with 10 goals in two home games. She said the team has grown together.
“We have a very talented group of women that bring different things to the pool,” Evans said.
The team features six seniors as well as other returning players and other new additions to the team.
Laura Kocsis, graduate student in kinesiology and utility player, had four goals on the weekend, three of which were against Redlands.
“Finishing in the top-15 is a realistic goal to have, but of course our main goal is to win conference and make it to the NCAA Championships,” Kocsis said.
This is the first year the winner of the Golden Coast Conference will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.
Curran said the team has improved in her years at CBU, something she had dreamed of as an assistant coach.
“My expectation this year is to see the team play together as one unit, support and encourage one another and to be a great example of what God can do in the lives of athletes,” Curran said. “The team loves and cares for each other, which you do not see very often in this sport.”
The team will be travel to Whittier College to play in the Whittier Open Feb. 6 and return home to play in the Lancer Invitational March 11.
