CMS Women's Water Polo Defeats Cal Lutheran to Cap Best SCIAC Season in Program History

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's water polo team jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never trailed as it defeated Cal Lutheran 11-8 in its regular season finale on Wednesday, finishing with an 11-1 SCIAC record, the best in program history.

The win improves the Athenas' record to 17-9 overall, while the 11-1 SCIAC mark surpasses the 7-1 record of the 1997 team for the best league winning percentage at CMS. The Athenas were also 12-2 a year ago, which now stands as the third-best winning percentage in the program, while the two-year 23-3 record eclipses the 13-3 record from 1996-97 for the best two-year run. 

Cooper McKenna led CMS with three goals and an assist and Christina Kulick had two goals and an assist as CMS used a balanced offense with eight different goal scorers overall. 

CMS led 5-1 after the first quarter, with five different players finding the net during the frame. Grace Clark opened the scoring in the first minute, and was followed by goals from McKenna, Dara Schoolcraft and Caitlin Muñoz to give the Athenas a 4-0 lead just over four minutes into the game. Olivia Cairns capped off the first quarter with a goal, and Isabel Del Villar ended the half with a goal to make it 8-3 at the break. 

Each team scored twice in the third, with Mia Adsen joining the scoring column with a goal with 1:40 left to make it 10-5, adding it to her team-high three assists. 

McKenna capped off her hat trick with 5:42 left in regulation to make it 11-5, which was also her team-leading 50th goal of the season. Cal Lutheran rattled off three straight goals down the stretch to make it an 11-8 final. 

Mason Spencer had eight saves in goal for CMS, while Kulick drew five exclusions, helping CMS to three 6-on-5 goals on the day. 

CMS will be back in action when it hosts a remtach with Cal Lutheran in the SCIAC Semifinals on Friday, April 28.