Chapman men’s water polo team starts fast and defeats Cal Lutheran 19-11

Graham Asalone of Chapman University takes a shot for the Panthers. (Photo courtesy Larry Newman)

After jumping out to a 5-0 start, the Chapman University men’s water polo team led from wire-to-wire to record a 19-11 win over visiting Cal Lutheran. Junior Vasil Halchev scored five goals to lead the Panthers (6-14, 2-3 SCIAC).

The Panthers scored the first five goals of the match in just over four minutes to take an early command of the match and never relinquished their comfortable lead. The Kingsmen never came closer than three goals with seven different Panthers putting a shot into the back of the net.

Five different Panthers scored the first five goals of the match as the team spread the wealth around.

Sophomore Hunter Ramaekers scored first for the Panthers. Valchev scored the Panthers third goal to start his big night. Freshman Graham Asalone also scored two goals for the Panthers as well as assisting on six others.

After building a big initial lead, the Kingsmen cut it down to 8-5 early in the third. The Panthers responded with three goals over the next two-and-a-half minutes to get comfortably back out in front.  Another three-goal run at the end of the third brought Cal Lutheran back within three.

Halchev scored back-to-back goals to halt the Kingsmen’s comeback attempt and the Panthers went on to score eight of the next nine goals to go up by as much as 10 at 19-9.

Junior Wesley Hertel made 12 saves in goal as the Panthers stayed comfortably out in front. The Panthers were 5-for-8 on man-up situations.

Chapman travel to Caltech on Saturday but returns to Allred Pool on Tuesday, Oct. 16 to take on Whittier.