Stags stagger Leopards in conference opener
CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team (9-11, 1-0) opened up conference play on Sunday afternoon with a major 12-6 victory over University of La Verne (2-14, 0-1). Six different players scored for the Stags, including senior Eric Bakar (CMC) scored three goals and two assists while junior Graham Fullerton (CMC) snatched three steals. Senior Rye Newman (CMC) managed to make five saves and had one steal to keep Leopards tamed on the offensive end.
Senior Alex Waggoner (CMC) opened up the scoring at 7:11, but Fullerton committed a foul in the five-meter area at 4:41 to give La Verne the penalty. After Rex Sample tied it up for the Leopards, Bakar took the lead back at 3:32 with a penalty goal of his own after a foul from Jared Hopely.
Josh Vega tied the game again, thanks to an assist from Guillermo Ocasio, but the Stags scored three straight in the second period and never looked back.
Senior Ellison Taylor (CMC) made a major impact towards the end of the third period and the fourth period on both sides of the pool. At 3:13 in the third period, Taylor found Waggoner to give CMS a 7-4 lead. He followed up with a goal assisted by Fullerton at 1:15. Within the first minute of the final period, Taylor scored his second goal to extend the lead 10-4 to keep the game far and away from the Leopards.
The Stags will visit Whittier College on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. to continue their strong start in conference play.
By Young Kim
Sports Information Assistant
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