Convincing win over Chapman moves CMS up in the SCIAC standings

(Watch Postgame Interview and Highlights)

CLAREMONT, Calif. – In a key conference home match, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team earned a convincing 15-10 win over previously SCIAC-unbeaten Chapman on Nov. 8 at Axelrood Pool. With the win, CMS improved to 10-13 overall and 6-1 in SCIAC play and moved into second place in the conference while Chapman was handed its first SCIAC loss and is now 14-8 overall and 5-1 in SCIAC.

For the first quarter, the game remained tight as the teams were even at 2-2 after CMS sophomore Eric Bakar (CMC) evened the score with his first goal of the game with just less than two minutes left in the first quarter. The momentum really turned in CMS' favor when junior attacker Daniel Cogan (CMC) gave CMS the lead on a goal from deep on the right wing with one second remaining in the quarter which went just passed the outstretched hands of the Chapman goalie and into the top left corner of the net.

Cogan's goal started a 5-1 run for CMS as they extended their lead to 7-3 at halftime. CMS then started the second half with a goal by senior utility Mark Nietzel (CMC) just ninety seconds into the third quarter. Chapman answered with a goal of its own by Jake Gross to narrow the CMS lead to 8-4. Over the next several minutes, CMS pushed its lead to a game-high seven goals at 11-4 with four minutes left in the third quarter.

Chapman however made things interesting in the fourth quarter getting within three goals with just under five minutes left in the match on a goal by Mark Alvarado which is as  close as they would get as CMS would go on to the 15-10 win.

Junior attacker Tanner Cullen (CMC) had four goals, five steals and two assists and Bakar added three scores to lead CMS. Cogan and Nietzel each added two goals while four Stags had one score. Senior goalie James Kelly (CMC) had nine saves for CMS.

Alvarado and Gross led Chapman with three scores apiece.

Next up for CMS is its last match before the SCIAC Championships, a home match against rival Pomona-Pitzer on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.

Box score

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