Eric Bakar (Photo by John Valenzuela)
Eric Bakar (Photo by John Valenzuela)

Nightcap goes to Stags in first day of Gary Troyer

CLAREMONT, Calif. – In the first day of the Gary Troyer Tournament, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team went 1-1 with a win over Concordia, Irvine, 8-7 in the final game of the day after dropping the afternoon game to UC San Diego 12-8.

The game vs. Concordia was tied on four different occasions, and when it was not tied, CMS held a two-goal lead at most. The Stags' offensive attack was spread among five players, three of which had a pair of goals each. Junior Noah Deer (CMC) and senior Alex Waggoner (CMC) traded goals in the first quarter for a 2-2 tie after eight minutes of clock time.

Senior Eric Bakar (CMC) helped CMS snag the 5-3 lead near the middle of the second quarter with a quick shot after a defensive foul on the Eagles. But then, the Stags were shut out for the rest of the period, unable to capitalize on two powerplays.

Concordia went up 6-5 at the halfway point in the third quarter with Jacob Saduddin's second goal of the night. CMS scored three goals in a row as Bakar evened it up at 6-6 and then sophomore Matt Daruty (CMC) made an assist to senior Ellison Taylor (CMC), got a steal, and then scored himself, all within two minutes.

Senior goalie Rye Newman (CMC) made 11 saves in the game, three of which came in the fourth quarter for the Stags to maintain their slim advantage. After a penalty foul on the Stags at 3:48 in the fourth, Newman made a huge save on the shot by CUI's Cristiano Tomassetti to secure the victory.

Box Score vs. Concordia

Earlier in the day, the Stags hung with the No. 12 UC San Diego before giving up a big third quarter to eventually lose 12-8. The Tritons jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first two and a half minutes before CMS got on the board with Deer's first goal of the game.

Strong but clean defense made up the next four minutes of play as both teams were scoreless. The first quarter finished up with Taylor netting and even strength goal at 0:46.

In the middle two quarters, UCSD put in 10 goals, led by cap No. 3, Jack Ellinthorpe who had four in the game. The Tritons scored on a number of counterattacks and breakaways in the third to take the 12-5 lead.

CMS owned the fourth as Newman shut out the Tritons while the offense played with more structure and poise. Bakar's leadership organized the Stags as he, Taylor, and junior Graham Fullerton (CMC) all scored in the final period.

Box Score vs. UC San Diego

The Stags face Iona and Connecticut College on Saturday, Oct. 8, the second day of the Gary Troyer Tournament, at 3:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. respectively. You can follow via the live stats or video stream.

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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