Chargers Battle Defending Champs in Conference Opener, Fall 14–11
Cypress shows grit with late rally against Golden West in first conference matchup of the season
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
|
|
2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
Team Stats
Golden West
CYPRESS, CA – The Cypress College men's water polo team opened conference play with a determined performance, pushing defending state champion Golden West before falling 14–11 on Wednesday at home.
Golden West jumped out to a quick 2–0 lead before Kai Banua got the Chargers on the board. Goalie Aiden Xavier kept Cypress close early with several key saves, and Victor Abella added a goal to finish the first stretch trailing 4–2.
The Rustlers built momentum through the middle periods, but the Chargers continued to press. Nathan Burgos scored off a pass from James Luther, while Mathew Arauz and Wes Brazda answered after halftime. Then, Brazda converted a penalty and later striking again on an Abella assist to trim the margin to 11–6.
Cypress mounted a spirited fourth-quarter comeback led by Luther, who finished with four goals, including three in the final minutes. Banua added his second of the match as the Chargers closed to within three before time expired. Xavier's clutch blocks and the team's relentless late push underscored Cypress's resilience in their first conference test.
UP NEXT: The Chargers hit the road to face Saddleback College on Wednesday, October 1.
Stay connected with the Chargers through social media. Follow Cypress College Athletics on X (Formerly Twitter) @CypressChargers. Check in with the Chargers on Facebook/CypressChargers and on Instagram @CypressChargers.
