USC and Pepperdine Prove Too Much for Stags
REDLANDS, Calif. - On Sunday afternoon the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team took on a pair of Division I teams in No. 2 University of Southern California and No. 8 Pepperdine University. The Trojans showed why they are one of the top teams in the country with a 20-1 victory over the Stags. CMS was able to score a goal in the third quarter, but Southern Cal went on for the comfortable victory.
Things did not get any easier for the Stags in their second match of the day. CMS squared off with No. 8 Pepperdine and hung with the Waves throughout the match. At the end of the first-quarter, the Waves held a slim 2-1 lead with Zach Rossman (CMC) scoring with 1:25 remaining in the period. Pepperdine then scored the next five goals to open up a 7-1 lead early in the third-quarter. That run stopped when Rossman connected for his second goal of the match. That goal from Rossman started a 5-3 run in favor of the Stags that pulled CMS within four at 10-6.
Rossman scored his third goal of the match during the streak with Noah Deer (CMC) adding a pair of goals and Koss Klobucher (CMC) connecting on one to account for the scores. Pepperdine would score three-straight goals in the final three-minutes and change to earn the 13-6 victory.
In goal, Evan Pauletich (CMC) made five saves.
The Stags will final come home for their first matches in Claremont this coming Saturday when they host Caltech at 11:00 a.m. and Riverside Community College at 3:00 p.m.