STOCKTON, Calif. – Fourth seeded and 16th-ranked California Baptist upset top-seeded and 5th-ranked Pacific, 10-9, in the WCC Men’s Water Polo Tournament semifinals Saturday afternoon at Chris Kjeldsen Pool at Douglass M. Eberhardt Aquatics Center.
 
The Lancers capitalized on their chances early, surging ahead in the second quarter and holding off a hard-charging Pacific attack to send themselves to Sunday’s title game.
 
In the first half, the normally potent Pacific offense was held in check by CBU. The Lancers held a 5-4 lead into the break and would stampede out to as many as a four-goal lead in the second half. Pacific went an uncharacteristic 0-for-3 from on penalty shots.
 
In a contrast to their 18-13 affair during the regular season, the defensive struggle continued into the second half. Pacific kept searching for consistency on the offensive end. The Tigers pushed their attack to cut the deficit to one with less than a minute to play, but the gap was too much to overcome as California Baptist took time off the clock down the stretch to earn the victory and a berth in the championship game tomorrow against San José State.
 
CBU’s Bodhi Bowden led the Lancers offensively, netting three scores. WCC Player of the Year, Mihailo Vukazic, had three scores for the Tigers.
 
California Baptist’s William Whitstone came up with big stop after big stop late in the contest, finishing with eight total saves in the contest.
 
The Lancers shot 10-of-33 (30.3%), while the Tigers were held to 9-of-35 (25.7%)
 
The Lancers will take on San José State, a 14-10 winner of Pepperdine in the other semifinal match, on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in search of the 2024 WCC Water Polo Tournament Championship.