Stags Outlasted in Sixth Street Rivalry Match

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Another page in the illustrative history between Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Pomona-Pitzer was written on Saturday evening as the Sagehens edged the Stags 1-0 in front of a packed house on Pritzlaff Field. Pomona-Pitzer found the back of the net in the 16th minute from the left-side off the foot of Aidan Ferrer for the lone score of the contest.

Despite playing a man short for the entire second-half, the Stags pressured the Sagehens right up until the final whistle. CMS had dangerous chances late in the contest, including a free kick from Yusuke Kobayashi (CMC) in the 88th minute that was saved on a diving stop by the Pomona-Pitzer keeper.

In the final six minutes of the contest, the Stags attempted four shots, but were unable to find the equalizer and fell by the 1-0 final.

The opening stretch of the match was fought in the midfield. Both CMS and Pomona-Pitzer took a pair of shots in the game's first 15 minutes, but none could find the back of the cage. Nate Huntington (CMC) had the highest quality chance in the 13th minute, but his shot was turned away by Ben Mitchell and the game remained scoreless.

The Sagehens found their moment in the 16th minute when Aidan Ferrer collected a loose ball on the left-side of the box and lofted a shot past the outstretched arms of Daniel Cui (CMC) for the 1-0 lead.

Pomona-Pitzer enjoyed the 1-0 lead for a majority of the half and it looked like the Sagehens would carry the lead into the second-half without much excitement. That would all change in the final minute of the half. The Sagehens sent a high-ball forward that got in behind the Stags' defense and forced Cui off his line. Cui punched the ball out of danger, but was given a red card for touching the ball outside of box.

Following the card, the Sagehens sent a shot high over of crossbar and the game remained 1-0 through the half.

Opening the second-half a man-down, the Stags battled and controlled the pace of play for the opening stretch of the half. Nate Huntington took a shot in both the 56th and 59th minutes but the attempts sailed high.

Slightly against the run of play, the Sagehens had a pair of dangerous moments 20 minutes into the second-half. Pomona-Pitzer rattled a shot off the post in the 65th minute and just moments later a dangerous header off a free kick sailed wide left. Even with the quality chances, the lead remained just 1-0 for the Sagehens.

In the 77th minute, Matthew Swift (CMC) carried the ball deep into Sagehens' territory and slotted a pass to Cole Smith (CMC) at the top of the box. Smith ripped a shot that was turned away by the keeper. Eight minutes later, the Stags turned up the pressure seeking the late equalizer.

CMS put some dangerous chances together in the final six minutes, including the free kick in the 88th minute from Kobayashi that was turned away with a diving save.

The free kick was the last quality opportunity for the Stags on the evening and the Sagehens escaped with a 1-0 victory over CMS.

The Stags will next take the pitch on Wednesday when they host Cal Lutheran at 7:00 p.m. on Pritzlaff Field.