Anna Fry had a last-minute goal to bring CMS within one, but the Athenas fell 6-5 to Sonoma State
Anna Fry had a last-minute goal to bring CMS within one, but the Athenas fell 6-5 to Sonoma State
Posted: Mar 02, 2019

CMS Women's Water Polo Edged by Sonoma State on First Day of Convergence

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's water polo team pulled within a goal twice in the fourth quarter, but couldn't complete the comeback as it fell 6-5 to Sonoma State on Friday evening at Axelrood Pool on the first day of the Claremont Convergence Tournament.

CMS also fell 14-5 to Division I Loyola Marymount in its first match of the day on Friday afternoon, as it sees its record fall to 2-5 on the young season. 

The Sonoma State match started auspiciously for the Athenas, as freshman Addi Duvall beat the shot clock with a long-range lob shot on the first possession of the game. The Seawolves tied it, but Amelia Ayala converted from 10 meters out to put CMS in front 2-1 at the end of the first quarter. 

The Athenas then went through a long scoring drought, as Sonoma State was able to take a 3-2 lead into the half and build it to 5-2 midway through the third quarter.  The ice was finally broken for CMS when Arcelia Aldrete found the net with 1:35 left in the third to make it a 5-3 game. 

Senior Emma Choy then brought the Athenas within a single goal midway through the fourth quarter, when she scored on a 6-on-5 off a pass from sophomore Anna Fry with 5:09 still to play. CMS had three possessions to try to tie it, but were unable to convert and Sonoma State scored on a 6-on-5 with 1:55 left. 

Fry gave CMS one final chance when she placed a shot perfectly into the upper-left corner with 28 seconds left to close to within 6-5. The Athenas pressed off the restart and forced Sonoma State to use a timeout, but the Seawolves were able to keep the ball away over the closing seconds to hold on for the win. 

The earlier game saw Loyola Marymount hold a 5-1 lead at the half, with sophomore Chandlyr Denaro accounting for the lone CMS goal. The Lions then outscored the Athenas 6-1 in the third to pull away, as freshman Alex Szymczak found the net for CMS in the middle of the frame to stop the LMU run momentarily. Aldrete, Kaitlyn Eng and Denaro each added goals in the fourth quarter for CMS. 

The Athenas will be back in action tomorrow on the second day of the Claremont Convergence, taking on CSU Monterey Bay at 12:45 and Azusa Pacific at 5:45.