Emma Choy makes a pass during the Athenas victory over Caltech.
Emma Choy makes a pass during the Athenas victory over Caltech.

Athenas Start SCIAC Play With Convincing Victory Over Caltech

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's water polo team took care of the Caltech Beavers 12-2. CMS scored on their first seven possessions en route to a 7-1 lead at the end of first period. Anna Fry (HMC) led the Athenas with three goals in the first-half while Jessica Gaffney (CMC) and Haley Gibbs (SC) matched her with three total goals in the comfortable victory.

As mentioned, the Athenas opened the contest in convincing fashion, scoring goals on their first seven possessions to take an early 7-1 lead after just five minutes. A total of five different Athenas beat the keeper to notch tallies with Fry and Gaffney leading the effort with a pair of goals each. In addition to the marks from Fry and Gaffney, Krystal Sung (CMC), Aracelia Aldrete (CMC), and Celeste Cerna (HMC) scored in the stretch to take a 7-1 lead into the second period.

The scoring pace slowed considerably in the second quarter, but CMS continued to hold the upper hand throughout the period. Fry added her third goal and Gibbs got on the board with a tally just before the break. CMS held a 2-1 advantage in the period and went into the half with a 9-2 advantage.

The Athenas shutout the Beavers after the break and added three insurance goals in the second-half to secure the 12-2 victory. Gibbs scored a goal in both the third and fourth quarters and Gaffney added a single goal in the fourth to cap off the CMS scoring effort.

Chandlyr Denaro (CMC) made six saves in goal to earn the victory.

The win moves the Athenas to 3-3 on the season and starts CMS off on the right foot in SCIAC play with a 1-0 mark. The Athenas are next in action on Friday and Saturday when they host the Convergence Tournament. CMS will take on Sonoma St. (1:40 p.m.) and Villanova (5:40 p.m.) on Friday before hosting UC San Diego (11:40 a.m.) and Cal St. Monterey Bay (5:00 p.m.) on Saturday in Axelrood Pool.