Stags advance to SCIAC semifinal with win over Oxy
PASADENA, Calif. – Ultimately the persistence of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team paid off as the Stags bested Occidental 12-7 in the opening game of the 2016 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships. After three low-scoring quarters, CMS broke out in the fourth for five goals to pull out the win. The Stags match up with Whittier in the SCIAC semifinal tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 19 at 11:45 a.m. at Pasadena City College.
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CMS was the first to score as senior Alex Waggoner (CMC) netted a goal from the right side. Oxy then fired off two in a row as the Stags were called on a number of offensive fouls, limiting their scoring opportunities. Junior Noah Deer (CMC) scored next for CMS at 4:48 in the first quarter. That was the last goal in the period as both teams played a very aggressive and defensive final three minutes.
CMS found more success in the second quarter with junior Peter Tilton (CMC) scoring his first goal since Sep. 30. Freshman Zack Rossman (CMC) scored two of his eventual four goals as CMS took the 6-4 lead going into halftime. Additionally, neither team was excluded during the second quarter
The Tigers came within one goal as they scored in their first possession of the quarter. With the slight 6-5 lead, Tilton added his second of the game at the 3:01 mark in the period, assisted by Rossman.
Ultimately, the Stags' size and composure gave them the advantage in the fourth quarter. CMS scored four unanswered goals from senior Eric Bakar (CMC), Deer and a pair from Rossman to take the game out of reach for Occidental.
In the cage, senior Rye Newman (CMC) recorded 14 saves, a season high in SCIAC play.
With the win, the Stags advance to the semifinal game in the SCIAC Championships. The No. 2 seed, Whittier, beat No. 7 seed Chapman 12-9 to join CMS in the semi. The last time CMS faced Whittier, neither Rossman nor Tilton were in the pool as the team fell 11-7.
By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director
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