Biola makes history with first water polo victory
Biola goalie Mitchell Carpenter (1) deflects a shot on goal as they play Westcliff in their first men’s Water Polo game at home at Splash in La Mirada on Wednesday. Biola defeated Westcliff, 12-8. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
LA MIRADA – History was made for the Biola University men’s water polo team with its first home game and first win in the inaugural season Wednesday at Splash Aquatic Center.
Before a loud supportive home crowd, the Eagles defeated Westcliff University, 12-8, in a nonconference game.
Biola (1-4) freshman center defender Will Tibbetts entered his name into the record books with the first home goal and first three-goal (hat trick) game in program history for the Eagles.
“I was just looking for the ball and was counter-attacking and I felt we’re clicking as a team,” said Tibbetts, who was just cleared to play after five days of quarantine. “It showed up on the scoreboard.
The first goal was a low skip-shot.
“We’re meshing together really well and our defense is a team thing that we were lacking in San Diego,” Tibbetts added.
Biola’s Will Tibbetts (15) scored three goals in his team’s win over Westcliff on Wednesday (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Biola lost its first four games in a season-opening tournament in the Triton Invitational at the University of California San Diego.
Other leading scorers for Biola were junior attacker Kenny Wulf (3 Assists) and freshman center defender Nolan Rapp (1 A, 3 Stl.), with two goals each.
Five other players scored one goal apiece – Dominic Hidalgo-Valecillo (1 Stl.), Matthew Vinson, Matthew Rodriguez (2 A, 1 Stl.), John Grasso (1 A) and Maxwell Osborn (1 A, 1 Stl.).
Westcliff (1-4) was led by Luca Silvestri with three goals.
“What I told these guys is more than the score on the board, is just the way we played together as a team,” Biola men’s water polo coach Rick Nordell said. “(The scoring) came from a whole bunch of different guys.
“(Defense) was huge and it starts with (goalie) Mitchell (Carpenter) in the cage. My guys are starting to trust him in the cage and we’re able to run different defenses because we trust him.”
Carpenter recorded 10 saves in the game.
It’s been a long 16 months since Nordell was hired as the programs’ first men’s coach, with the recruiting process and just starting up the program.
“It was great,” said Nordell, of the first game. “I loved to see Biola’s first-ever home game and we get a “W” out of it. I couldn’t be more proud of the guys.”
Nordell pointed out the excellent defense of his team against the Warriors.
Biola players celebrate their win over Westcliff with coach Rick Nordell on Wednesday. Biola defeated Westcliff 12-8. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
“Those field blocks came because we were able to play as a team and cover up their biggest threat and tried to dictate where his shots were coming from,” said Nordell, who saw his team record 10 steals.
Highlighting the defense was the play against Westcliff’s power play. The Warriors were only 1 of 8. Biola scored on two of its three extra-man attempts.
Very active on the defensive side was Wulf with multiple field blocks and two steals.
“My plan was to lock down and not let them get goals,” said Wulf, who faced a former Riverside City College teammate (Vincenzo Inguanta) and held him to a single goal. “I take pride in my defense and I don’t like to have anyone score on me.
“I’m glad we could get a win in our first game.”
After an early block by Warriors goalie Roberto Barrera-Sanchez, Tibbetts scored the historical first, home-goal with just two minutes elapsed. That was followed by a tying goal, 1-1, by Westcliff.
Grasso and Wulf finished the first-period scoring for Biola, which led, 3-2, heading into the second period.
Biola, which never trailed in the game, outscored the Warriors, 3-2, in the second period for the 6-4 lead going into the intermission.
The game was a flip-flop from their first meeting in the Triton Invitational, as the Warriors never trailed and won, 10-7.
Hildago-Valecillo, who actually scored the first Biola goal in the Triton Tournament, opened the Biola scoring in the third period with a shot to the right corner and the 7-4 lead. With just under three minutes left in the period, Rapp gave the Eagles a four-goal lead, 8-4.
Rapp received a long pass from Rodriguez across the pool in the attacking zone.
Biola’s John Grasso (12) scores a goal against Westcliff in their first men’s Water Polo game at home at Splash in La Mirada on Wednesday. Biola defeated Westcliff 12-8. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Each team scored to end the period with a 9-5 Biola lead.
After Westcliff scored the first goal of the final period, to trail, 9-6, Biola took a commanding, 12-6 lead with the next three goals. Wulf scored first, which was followed by Tibbetts’ two goals in just over a minute, with the second coming with 3:43 left in the game.
Nordell gave Tibbetts some inspiration after the Triton Tournament to start the season.
“You know, at the tournament I had a talk with Will just about being involved more on the offense,” Nordell said. “He’s a great defensive player, he handles the ball really good, and he’s got great IQ and knows where the ball needs to go.
“But I said we need you to put the ball in the cage when it’s your turn. And, he knew that (Wednesday).”
Biola will play a Western Water Polo Association game next Friday at Santa Clara University.
What they said:
Angelina Staumont, Biola SID: “It’s a testament to all of the hard work that’s gone in on it from our administration, our coaches and our athletes.
“For us to earn our first program victory at home is really special. To see these guys come out here and get their first win for coach Rick Nordell is all you could really ask for. God’s really had his hand on this program and it’s really awesome to see them to come out and play the way they did (Wednesday).
Neil Morgan, Biola Associate AD: “This is a big day for our university. I think we have the right group of guys here. (Wednesday) it makes a statement that we’re not just here to play, we’re here to compete well.
“It just brings a big smile on my face. I remember sitting in an airport on a road trip with our volleyball team five or six years ago. I was typing up a proposal to our president and vice president about adding water polo. And now it’s here and we have a game under our belts and a win under our belts.
“It was a natural add to have water polo.”
Mitchell Carpenter, Freshman, Goaltender: “This is amazing. This is history. It’s so fun getting our first win and home win in school history. It’s an amazing day.
“My team played great defense and I have little complaint. Kenny Wulf made some great field blocks, great defense and a great effort. It’s a really good win for our program”
Luke Franklin, Freshman, Center: “Everyday it keeps getting better and better as the team chemistry grows. It’s a family now. That first tournament was what we needed to figure out all of the kinks and cracks and start our foundation from there.
“This past week we worked tremendously hard and as you can see in the game, we’ve gotten a lot better.
“Everyone did fantastic and we just shut them down. It was a great game.”
Nolan Rapp, Freshman, Center defender: “It was good to get our first win, for sure. I’m one to hold high expectations, so I’m already looking for the next one. Everyone played for each other and when you play like that you’re going to win.
“(My goals) came from two great passes from Kenny (Wulf) and Matt (Rodriguez). So, I can’t take all the credit.
“It was awesome that everybody was able to come out here to the game.”
Biola’s Kenny Wulf (13) scores a goal against Westcliff in their first men’s Water Polo game at home at Splash in La Mirada on Wednesday. Biola defeated Westcliff 12-8. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)