Stags Drop Pair of Matches with Ranked Foes
CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo took to Axelrood Pool on Saturday for a pair of matches. First up it was the No. 16 Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens taking the short walk across the street for the Sixth Street Rivalry Match. The Stags held a lead in the fourth-quarter, but could not hold on and the Sagehens earned the 6-5 victory. In the second match of the day, the No. 8 Pepperdine Wave took out the Stags 18-8.
No. 16 Pomona-Pitzer defeats Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 6-5
The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team clung to a 5-4 lead over the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens in Axelrood Pool on Saturday morning, but the Sagehens scored two unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to take the rivalry match 6-5.
Robert Driscoll (CMC) was the only player in the match to score multiple goals. He tallied two, one in the first period and another to start the scoring after half-time.
After Adam Gross scored for the Sagehens to open the match, CMS rattled off three-straight goals to take a 3-1 lead early in the second period. Driscoll and Peter Tilton (CMC) connected in the first period and Zack Rossman (CMC) score less than 90 seconds into the second to give the Stags a two-goal lead.
Two late goals for Pomona-Pitzer in the second period tied the match at 3-3 heading into the half.
The Stags came out of the break with energy, scoring two goals in the opening two minutes of the third period. Driscoll scored his second goal of the match and Noah Deer (CMC) found the back of the net just 30 seconds later and the Stags held a 5-3 lead.
Pomona-Pitzer held the Stags offense in check over the final 13 minutes of the match and scored three unanswered goals to edge CMS 6-5 in the match. The Sagehens scored a goal with two minutes left in the third period before scoring two in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback.
The Stags had an opportunity late in the match to tie the game, but were unable to get a shot off in a man-up situation with 10 seconds remaining.
Ethan Lewis (CMC) was huge in goal for the Stags, making 13 saves to keep CMS in the match.
No. 8 Pepperdine defeats Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 18-8
Pepperdine scored six goals in both the first and second periods to build a 12-4 lead at the break. The Stags tallied a pair of goals in all four periods, but could not keep up with the offensive firepower that the Wave brought to the match.
Eric Thvedt (CMC) and Barron Banta (CMC) each scored a pair of goals in the match to lead the offensive effort for the Stags.
After Saturday, the Stags move to 10-14 on the season and 5-5 in the SCIAC. CMS will end the season against four SCIAC foes. They begin the final stretch of the season against Occidental on the road at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
