Biola University men’s water polo team narrowly lost to Wagner 14-13 in sudden death on September 27, 2026, at the Air Force Rare Air Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The match extended through regulation, two overtime periods, and then sudden death, reflecting a tightly contested and high-scoring game. Sophomore attacker Noah Ryznar led Biola with three goals and one assist.
Wagner scored first, but Biola quickly responded with a goal from Kyle Seifen assisted by Landon Heuer, followed by a penalty shot conversion from Jayden Rose. Biola trailed 4-3 after the first quarter but surged in the second quarter with four unanswered goals by Gavin Starling, Micah Hernandez, Landon Heuer, and Ryznar, taking a 7-6 lead at halftime.
Wagner regained the lead in the third quarter, outscoring Biola 3-2, but a late power play goal from Biola’s Isaac Demski tied the game at 9-9 entering the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter featured multiple lead changes with Biola players Heuer, Hernandez, Seifen, Starling, Rose, and Demski each contributing goals. Regulation ended tied at 12-12.
In the first overtime, Wagner scored with 25 seconds remaining to go up 13-12. Biola’s Hernandez answered midway through the second overtime to force sudden death. Wagner ultimately scored on a power play in sudden death to secure the 14-13 victory.
Defensively, Kevin Slack led the Eagles with six steals, and goalkeeper Igor Pinheiro played nearly the entire match, recording 10 saves along with two steals and two assists.
Biola moved to 4-10 on the season following the loss. The Eagles were scheduled to continue play at the Air Force Rare Air Invitational against Augustana later that same day.
CSB Take
Biola University men’s water polo showed resilience and endurance by extending the match with Wagner through multiple overtimes and sudden death in a competitive high-scoring contest. Noah Ryznar’s offensive leadership and strong defensive efforts from key players underscored the team’s competitive spirit. This experience in marathon matches is valuable as Biola works to improve its performance in the remainder of the season.
Source: Original report
